Hugely different provision in neighbouring LA's for summer childcare

[Twoweeksinaugust]

I really can't understand how our neighbouring LA are so well organised and efficient that every child aged 5-11 is being offered free childcare, with lunch provided, Mon - Fri, 10-3 for a month of the summer. Our LA is offering a few parent supervised play days in the local park.

We know how many dc go without a decent meal in the summer, this scheme could improve lives so much, plus give kids lovely play opportunities and a bit of structure whilst parents get a small break.

Would this blow your mind if you were local to it?

Would love to know which political party controls each of the respective councils.

Every child? Not just those eligible for HAF?

10-3 is no good if you work

@ProudCat Both Labour councils, @GingerAndTheBiscuits every child

How are they funding universal provision?

Which LA is offering fully free?

I'm wondering if it's the one near dsis who was telling me with equal indignation - turned out to be just those on PP, which as they earn well into the six digit salary they weren't eligible for anyway.

@GingerAndTheBiscuits no it's not suitable if you work, but if you're relying on grandparents etc for childcare then it lowers the burden on them hugely. Some employers also offer flexi time etc, so you could possibly make it work.
@myrtleWilson apparently a mix of applying for grants and funding, and clever accounting. My LA are absolutely useless in comparison.

Which LA? And every child is eligible?

Do you mean the HAF programme?

Well I'm in Surrey and they are broke. So no charity donations to any of the SEN / disability groups. Massive cuts to the disability playgroups. They are broke.

The same reason neighbouring areas can have vastly different NHS waiting times, dental provision, CYPSS intervention and so on.

Different areas, different budgets, different pressures, different demographics.

This is just the type of scheme that our taxes should be going towards. Not universal breakfast clubs - but quality summer childcare provision that enables parents to work pretty much FT in the holidays in the knowledge that their kids are safe, fed, exercised and stimulated. Frustrating that it’s, effectively, another postcode lottery as to whether your child gets the opportunity though.

A million times this.

Which LA is this, @Twoweeksinaugust?

10-3 isn’t for a working parent. Lots of the ones I had to use were like that. Add on a 30 minute drive it’s only 4 hours in work.
My daughter is grown up now but it was an incredibly stressful time trying to manage. It does need sorting. I didn’t even mind paying but it just didn’t exist. She hated going to the childminders as there was often very young children and no one of her age.
If she played football there were lots of clubs available.

@Shinyandnew1 it's Torfaen
https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/EducationLearning/ChildrenandYoungPeople/PlayService/PlaySchemes/Play-Schemes.aspx

And what about us without children needing care? Why should I fund it?

Tin hat firmly on....awaiting in coming

It is a good thing and I hope it makes a real difference to some families.

The problem with 10-3 is a lot of min wage jobs might find it hard to manage the logistics - retail workers can't really say oh sorry I won't be in until 10.15. But equally it is a lot easier to find someone who is prepared to have your kids for 2 hours before this club rather than a full 8 hour day.

Reform control mine and have cancelled food for children this summer.

Stunning! Who knew?!
This is so valuable and so, so rare!!

Because if they are bored and roaming the streets they might vandalise your car 😂😂😂

I think it’s a great idea

10-3 especially with travel time is totally useless for a working parent.

It's only useful for people who already had grandparent childcare or people who don't work

Now I get that it's nice for those kids to have some enrichment and fun over the holidays

But it would be nice if more effort was put into helping working parents without grandparents supporting - e.g. could these clubs offer extended hours for a fee?

Yes - because if parents are able to work FT without interruption everyone benefits: the economy, the users of services those parents provide, the businesses where those parents can afford to take their custom because they’ve not had to spend it on childcare or take leave, a society that has happy, well-adjusted young people leaving its schools fit for work [as it has been modelled by their parents] and not languishing on CAMHS waiting lists for MH issues.

You may not have children, but it is other people’s children who will grow up to be the dentists, doctors, nurses that you WILL rely upon - and already do. Society’s children belong to us all and we all have a vested interest in ensuring they are well cared for and educated and that their parents are supported in the work place. Unless you’d rather your tax continues to go to an every burgeoning welfare bill funding parents who cannot/will not work instead?

I hope the tin hat survived.

Nothing like that in Notts/leicester/ Lincs other than some HAF programmes but even those have very limited spaces and not everyone entitled can get a space on them.

Covering the summer holidays is a massive headache for so many people but then again, finding wraparound can be equally as challenging in some areas. I think that this sort of roll-out of the free breakfast clubs was half hearted too, it was a postcode lottery and I know a colleague who lives in Lincolnshire said that her local schools were doing it but it didn’t open until 8:15-8:45, just for half an hour before the gate opened anyway whereas the paying breakfast club is £8 open from 7:30-8:45 and if you need to be at work for 8am then the free club was no use whatsoever!!
If they’re going to do these things, they need to be consistent and running at times that actually help people. Breakfast clubs that don’t open until 8:15 and holiday clubs on at 10-3 aren’t that useful. If they’re limited on the hours, they’d be better offering these things for longer hours say 7:30-8:45 breakfast and 8-6 holiday provision but on say 3 days of the week instead of 5.
All good ideas but not overly practical!