Free childcare for all one- and two-year-olds, and maternity pay extended to a year?

[KateMumsnet]

Employers' organisation the CBI today called on the government to extend the 15 free hours of childcare currently offered to three- and four-year-olds to all one- and two-year-olds; lengthen maternity pay entitlement to one year; and raise the NI threshold.

It says that average families - who've seen their income fall by £2,132 a year in real terms between 2009 and 2013 - have borne the brunt of the financial crisis and the slow recovery, and that these measures will boost family incomes and get more adults into work.

Would this make a substantial difference to your family finances? Do you agree that the government should step in to help families? Do share your thoughts on the thread.

'I am not convinced (to put it mildly) that all the settings involved know what to do with 2 year olds'

Very much agree MrsDeVere, that's my professional experience too. None of the settings I know are providing anything like 'high quality childcare'.

I feel very strongly that the government have gone completely down the wrong path with this policy and that the money should have been spent on universal services like Family Support, parenting programs, information about early communication development, delivered through Children's Centres so that parents are supported to do their job.

The problem as I see it is that this isn't about finances at all.

the point of "free" childcare is to encourage parents of children who do get the best start to send their children into the system and get more opportunities. It is universal to remove the stigma (I paraphrase)

the corollary is that there is now an expectation that every 3yo should attend such provision, and the outcome of this is that parents who choose not to are often considered somewhat alternative. I think that I'd wrong, but I cannot bear the idea the same would be applied to a one year old.

it's just too much.

I find it odd that you are paid for 39 weeks maternity, strongly encouraged to go back to work (but still pay for childcare) but when the child gets to aged three, they will give you 15 hours free!?!?
Why not give families a year maternity pay then if they go back to work, they then receive 15 hours free childcare? I actually save £105 a week because my child gets 15 free hours. Multiply this by 52 gives me a £5460 saving!!!
If you want people to go back to work, give them a proper incentive. Money given to children under seven for free school meals would actually benefit a lot of families if it paid for some or all of their childcare. IMO, free meals shouldn't happen. Feeding a child is NOT the educations responsibility; it's the parents. I am also not saying that everyone's childcare should be free (financial responsibility is important) but if it benefits society it should be the case.

It does not go very far as it is. It costs about £30k a year in London for full time childcare if you have three children under 4 as we did whether that is 3 full time nursery places, one nanny or whatever. It is just a drop in the ocean.

I would prefer to see much lower taxes.

Also maternity pay for most is really just 6 weeks at 90% pay - after that it will not pay for your expenses hence why some of us are back at 6 weeks or earlier.