New budget - I'm excited!

[gemloving]

I am so glad the topic of childcare is finally being discussed and it seems changed are being made.

I can't see us getting free hours for 1 year olds but 30h for 2 year olds would be fantastic and such a great move into the right direction.

I have a 4 year old and an almost 2 year old in the system!

I suggest you do your research on that. You only have to look at covid and the impact lockdowns had on the social development of pre school children.
Well this eejit has bills to pay and a roof to keep over my kids head!

PP true to some extent, but also some kids really enjoyed being at home - either way lockdown is an extreme example of social isolation and not evidence that all children thrive in the opposite of that - wraparound care, school, holiday clubs, full time nursery.

I have mixed feelings about the sentiments behind the budget whilst acknowledging it'll help many of my friends and so many single parents.

On another level I just feel motherhood, or parenthood has been diminished and that children are a problem and that children's well-being isn't being thought of. Especially as ratios are to be increased at nursery.

Motherhood is reduced to an annoying roadblock to being apparently a much more useful unit of economic growth.

The enhanced childcare proposals won’t happen for over two years. Won’t help people now.
Also,how does the government think this will be facilitated? There won’t be enough places for everyone.

Also , shouldn’t the 30 hours childcare be for parents who genuinely are working? Not just for people to dump their kids so they can let nurseries look after their kids for no reason.

Got to work atleast 16 hours to get it

I guess in real terms 30 hours for the limited yearly amount (what is it 36 weeks?) works out at 2.5 days in a full time daycare where you have to book long days all year.

So it's not covering full time childcare unless you go to a term time nursery.

@dottydarkness lol. Why provide free education for children right? Why provide you with free healthcare? Why provide people on benefits with housing but just let them rot on the streets? People who speak their mind but have no clue what they're talking about.

Which chain do you work for that are comfortable operating outside of the rules?

Maybe the government thinks it will be a vote winner for them in the next general election, regardless of whether they can actually deliver all these 'free' hours. If they somehow manage to win the next election and don't deliver this childcare promise they can blame it on all the childcare settings that have gone bust.

Livinginanotherworld - you are spot on! The government is sending out a message that sahm are lazy / not pulling their weight. I support help with childcare costs for those who need / want it but the messaging is all wrong and, as a sahm, I find it really insulting and upsetting.