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Original poster

Childcare costs unaffordable for 2/3 families - govt helping?

46 replies

BrummieOnTheRun · 30/01/2007 10:06

From The Times today:

"Research, carried out by the Daycare Trust, suggests that full-time nursery care is now not affordable for at least two-thirds of families. Parents in the Home Counties have been worst hit, with bills stretching to £375 a week.
[...]
Beverley Hughes, the Children's Minister said: "We do appreciate the impact that childcare costs can have on the family budget of lower-income families but we are doing more than ever to make good quality childcare and early education accessible and affordable."

full article here

Cheers, Bev!

Well after my thread last week when I realised I was going to have to earn £40-45k gross JUST to cover the cost of childcare (3 under school age), I think the govt should be told that this isn't just a low-income issue. I see no sign of govt help for normal working families.

I am e-mailing her. If anyone else would like to enlighten her as to the impact of childcare costs and lack of govt support, her parliamentary e-mail address is available on her website. Just google her.

OP posts:
Fillyjonk · 30/01/2007 10:09

omg

they had to do a study to find this out?

ffs

foxtrot · 30/01/2007 10:13

These people are so out of touch with reality. I sit here knowing that it is not worthwhile going back to work until my 3 DC are all at school.

Nemo2007 · 30/01/2007 10:21

Agree it was a waste of time and money. I have 3 under 3 1/2yrs and struggle just to pay for DS to go to playgroup for 3 mornings never mind if I had to pay for all of them to go full time in to childcare. Now I do appreciate it was my choice to have soo many children so close together but we knew even when I was pg with just DS financially it was better for either myself or Dh to stay home and maybe get a part time evening or weekend job rather than both being full time and send him to nursery.

amidaiwish · 30/01/2007 10:29

but when they go to school what kind of jobs are available inside school hours and with the holidays?

at least with nursery from 8-6 you can get a full day's work in.

fizzbuzz · 30/01/2007 10:49

The government need to recognise that the majority of parent who pay childcare bills need help. It focuses all it's resources on the poorest and whilst I totally agree with that, the middle band which I fall into get no help at all.

It seems to me that it is the middle income earners who suffer most in this sort of thing. I am in the stupid position of having to return to work full time to pay child care bills, if I didn't have to pay c/care bills I could work part time. Sometimes it seems like some sort of joke

Original poster
BrummieOnTheRun · 30/01/2007 11:10

I totally agree, fizzbuzz. I think they are totally ignorant to the anger felt by MOST working families at the lack of affordable, good quality childcare and the tax / benefit imbalance. This isn't just a low income issue.

OP posts:
skiwear · 30/01/2007 22:01

I tried e-mailing and it got returned!

uwila · 01/02/2007 10:46

I would like to see mumsnet get David Cameron back on here to discuss this issue specifically: The affordability of working for the average earner.

Incidentally, does anyone know what the average household income is in the UK?

Cloudhopper · 01/02/2007 10:50

Hear hear to all the comments here. Many of the women I know on 40-45k with two children (those that are married and therefore not getting WTC or whatever) are working for nothing. They only work so they can put their children in nursery - don't ask.

Bozza · 01/02/2007 11:01

amidaiwish there are few jobs available for those hours and most of these are poorly paid. However paying a CM for after school/hols is a lot more feasible than paying a day nursery for a full day. Believe me, I do both. DS (in Y1) costs less than 1/2 of what DD (in day nursery) costs.

But I am one of those who spaced my children so as to be able to afford the childcare. I work 3 days and am generally paying £5-600 a month. But that is in the north. And in September DD will be eligible for the nursery grant.

Bozza · 01/02/2007 11:02

If both children were under 3 it would be £800/month for those 3 days.

uwila · 01/02/2007 11:05

Can we get David Cameron back to discuss the affordability of childcare?

I've posed the question under site stuff.

uwila · 01/02/2007 11:07

Bozza, I think that 3 days for two kids would be more like £1100 in the South.

anniemac · 01/02/2007 11:32

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anniemac · 01/02/2007 11:33

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Bozza · 01/02/2007 13:10

Hmm yes I am sure it would uwila. And I also think that my income/opportunities would also be greater. I feel very trapped in my job atm.

hatwoman · 01/02/2007 13:16

I don't agree it's daft to do the research - of course it's not. we all know how expensive chidcare is but you can't base policy decisions on a couple of conversations at play group and mn threads. solid accurate impartial compelling research is crucial to prove the point and make the case for change.

anniemac · 01/02/2007 13:32

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Cloudhopper · 01/02/2007 13:33

You have me really curious now anniemac - what is the 'drastic change'?

anniemac · 01/02/2007 13:45

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Cloudhopper · 01/02/2007 13:52

I wanted to do this, but dh is in a comfort zone and doesn't want to leave it.

expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:53

There is no way we could afford childcare.

We swap shifts.

anniemac · 01/02/2007 13:54

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anniemac · 01/02/2007 13:56

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expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:57

C'est la vie.

Childcare costs a bomb.

And then the workers get paid peanuts.

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