Osborne to announce free childcare for 2 year olds

[OliviaMumsnet]

In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor will outline a £650 million scheme to provide free early education for about 40 per cent of two year-olds.

Just wondering what MNers think about this....

Obviously you can't get a job done in 3 hours, but you can use the funding to reduce your total childcare bill, so I think it's a step in the right direction

kate I will reiterate

a scheme like some Scandinavian countries have sounds great

yes, smashing lovely thank you

if there are jobs

there are no jobs

What Kate said.

My favourite Tory bollocks quote was today when an MP said there was 'no direct link' between spending cuts in one area and planned increased spending in other areas. How stupid do they think we are????

I don't disagree AF (I made the same comment myself futher up the thread) which is why I thought it was an interesting paper and worth a look.

As an aside, if you look at the numbers of people in jobs in countries with higher levels of parental leave and corresponding statutory pay, there is less unemployment. This is because some of the people listed as being in employment are on parental leave of some kind. The more parental leave, the more jobs. A much better solution to some of our problems than doubling the length of continuous service required to make a claim for unfair dismissal.

Good point about SureStart Puffin

I really would like to know the numbers of those that have taken up the "2 year funding" vs those that have gone back to work??
I don't disagree it's needed in some cases BUT think dressing it up as a way to get peoria back into work is a crock! It's a way of getting middle class people to think its a great idea instead of the truth which is; parents aren't doing a good enough job of raising their kids, so the government will foot the bill and hope in 16 years we don't have more yobs running riot, because of we do no one knows the answer!

The 2.5 hours a day for 3 and 4 year olds only really helps Sahm's. It won't help people back to work as very few jobs will fit around that. What helped more people back to work was tax credits toasted childcare. So the Tories have the brilliant idea of cutting tax credits help for childcare and spending the money on this useless scheme instead.

Sorry meant tax credits towards childcare

The difference is that Labour introduced Sure Start to target the families most in need of help and support, though they often were not the main group which ended up using the services provided. Labour tried to reach them and did reach those that were willing to accept help and support.

The Tories know full well that a large % of those within that target group are unlikely to take advantage of the services offered. So they're making a lot of noise about an offer that most of those eligible won't take them up on.

It won't help SAHMs Sarah. The purpose of the scheme is to provide help to disadvantaged children who don't get support at home. The childcare line is just spin.

What was great about Sure Start was that it was provided for parents and children. There is no shared learning with this scheme. No help for the parents who need help to be good parents.

Well it won't matter because if they erode the unfair dismissal rights to only apply after 2 years then you will find women more adversely impacted - it is an absolute scandal.

And the following post was SO GOOD that I just had to repost it. I hope there is some loser in Osborne's possy who reads MN threads, as I've never called anyone a Cockweasel before but by gosh the name fits Osborne:

MildlyNarkyPuffin Mon 28-Nov-11 23:55:34
15 free hours a week for some two year olds targeted at the poorest families? So basically targeting exactly the same group that Sure Start was aimed at. You know Sure Start? The centres that have been squeezed out of existence by funding cuts in many areas. Funding cuts by ... oh yes, the Chancellor.

Cockweasel.

He should put the money towards lowering university tuition fees instead. Scandalous.

< applause >

They have screwed students, public sector workers, women (Fawcett legal challenge anyone?), Sure Start, the NHS, taken some of our employment rights...

What are we getting out of this? I'd really like to know.

kate yes, i realise we are in agreement, i latched onto your name (or your link really) to make my point again about this being a colossal waste of money if there is no work

I wonder if the old Rure Start centres will get the barbed wire ripped back down and the boards taken off the windows, and re-opened as "nurseries" offering "free childcare"

*Sure Start

Mildly but they were starting to reach the right families but this takes alot of time, trust me I spent years trying an we are now a massive child's centre in a terrible area and making huge impact. The only reason we remain open is we are a flagship centre and the school we are attached to helps fund us.

kate we are getting our deficit lowered apparently

oh, and a double dip recession, just in time for Xmas

sweet

sorry to keep name cheking you

it's just I am having heated debates on several threads at the mo, and it helps me stay on subject

sorry

We playing favourites tonight AF?

I know Lisa123. They are very much a Good Thing. My point was that they were a genuine attempt to reach the parents who needed the help and make lasting change not just a cheap soundbite.

Don't worry AF it's nice to know someone's listening and I'm not just ranting into the ether

It's funny, all this deficit reduction and double dip recession just feels a bit like... erm, how can I put this? Being fucked in the arse.

Sorry got confused!
Can you tell I'm very upset by all this cowpat they are trying to sell as gold??