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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Please please please don't start harassing your childcare provider about this funding change today

111 replies

BernadetteIsMySister · 15/03/2023 07:15

We know nothing. We have no idea how this will work, what the government are actually offering, how much they will pay and whether we will even be taking part in the scheme (we don't have to!).

I've seen posts already this morning saying they are going to email their nursery manager, finding out how to persuade their childminder to start accepting funding, asking when this will all start etc etc

We don't know.

This will be the nail in the coffin for many settings, please don't start harassing them for details when they will have enough to do today trying to find out how much this will affect them and their business.

OP posts:
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Cheeseandhoney · 15/03/2023 19:31

lovechickencrisps · 15/03/2023 18:32

Wow!
I'd like to assume a childcare provider would have more empathy for struggling families wanting to know when they're going to get a little bit of extra help.
The amount of time spent moaning on this thread could have easily been used by the OP to write a blanket email / app update so parents don't need to bother nursery staff at all.

The total misunderstanding is so clear here. I feel sorry for the poster but her total ignorance helps no one

PreparationPreparationPrep · 15/03/2023 20:30

Messaging nursery managers and childminders this morning was unnecessary however unreasonable you think I am. You can't possibly think we would have had any information today bearing in mind it was only properly announced at 1pm.

Did you issue an email or correspondence to the parents- seems like other providers pre empted this and did just that instead of firing away on MN. Unlikely your parents will come to MN.

SchoolTripDrama · 15/03/2023 20:35

Trader22 · 15/03/2023 08:01

It wouldn't exactly be difficult for a nursery to draft an email along the lines of

'Dear Parents,

We are aware of the recent news regarding childcare funding for 1year old onwards. We have no further information at the moment but
we will communicate with parents as soon as we do etc etc

Parents in the mean time can find information about help with chilcare cost at xyz.gov.uk

Kind regards,
Xyz nursery'

You can put it on the app/or send a blanket email.

You're being unreasonable. Nurseries are a business. If they can send blanket mails for world book day and last minute snowy weather and could handle covid and all the changing requirements....I'm sure they can handle questions regarding this for a couple of days until there's more clarity.

Pretty sure our nursery won't be having a meltdown about parent questions - because I like to think they're intelligent and capable humans.

This, this & this!

runningpram · 15/03/2023 20:40

This doesn't feel incredibly understanding - do you realise that childcare costs are crippling for most people. Please don't tell them off like they're toddlers for getting a bit excited.

Parker231 · 15/03/2023 21:23

runningpram · 15/03/2023 20:40

This doesn't feel incredibly understanding - do you realise that childcare costs are crippling for most people. Please don't tell them off like they're toddlers for getting a bit excited.

Excited for more nurseries and childminders to have to close as they won’t be able to absorb the loss of these hours. The government’s contribution is less than the minimum wage.

PrincessScarlett · 15/03/2023 23:30

runningpram · 15/03/2023 20:40

This doesn't feel incredibly understanding - do you realise that childcare costs are crippling for most people. Please don't tell them off like they're toddlers for getting a bit excited.

Whilst I agree it is exciting news for parents, childcare providers have been crippled for years by lack of government investment into funded hours and noone has fought their corner. The result is that settings have closed in droves, particularly since covid, and it is going to take time and investment for numbers to be up enough to be able to take on all the extra funded children, if indeed settings want to actually offer funded places anymore.

Barannca · 16/03/2023 10:29

by the OP to write a blanket email / app update so parents don't need to bother nursery staff at all.
Surely its up to individuals parents to look at the details. Childcare providers won't know anymore than anyone else and they too are struggling to keep their heads above water.
Besides I am not convinced the changes will actually happen. Most are not due to come into effect until after the next election! And at the moment are workable because their just isn't the workforce anyway. Nurseries are closing and childminders leaving . I can't see that changing

Tanith · 16/03/2023 13:44

PreparationPreparationPrep · 15/03/2023 20:30

Messaging nursery managers and childminders this morning was unnecessary however unreasonable you think I am. You can't possibly think we would have had any information today bearing in mind it was only properly announced at 1pm.

Did you issue an email or correspondence to the parents- seems like other providers pre empted this and did just that instead of firing away on MN. Unlikely your parents will come to MN.

Nursery managers are reporting receiving queries from parents who are not already using the setting.

PreparationPreparationPrep · 16/03/2023 18:50

So they should put something in the Website. That's usually where parents go first.

And or add something to the welcome message on the telephone

That would deflect the majority of enquiriesI. My point is there are easier ways to get your message across -

Kazzyhoward · 17/03/2023 10:07

lovechickencrisps · 15/03/2023 18:32

Wow!
I'd like to assume a childcare provider would have more empathy for struggling families wanting to know when they're going to get a little bit of extra help.
The amount of time spent moaning on this thread could have easily been used by the OP to write a blanket email / app update so parents don't need to bother nursery staff at all.

I'm an accountant. At the start of lockdown, when the furlough and business support schemes were announced, I immediately sent out an email to all clients saying we didn't know any more than they did, all we knew was what had been announced on TV, and that we'd get back to them in the next few days when the detail was published.

That didn't stop literally dozens of clients phoning us, emailing us, texting us, for the rest of the day, right into the early hours, with typical queries such as "I know you don't know the detail but .........", then they'd get annoyed when we didn't reply immediately or replied with "I don't know yet".

So, no, blanket texting/emailing or website updates don't prevent people from asking impossible to answer questions, probably because lots of people don't read emails/texts properly and if they do, they think it doesn't apply to them.

PreparationPreparationPrep · 17/03/2023 10:49

The point is not everyone will read and take notice agreed but that is the case with any change or announcement in government policy.

But the majority will and take note so it's up to you as employers/ providers how you go about managing the impact of these announcements on your service and your employees.

But to do nothing except post a thread on an anonymous forum? you can be assured the majority of your callers are even less likely to read a thread on MN

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