granny leave?!

[beanieb]

story story

"The YouGov survey for Grandparents Plus of more than 2,000 people found 61% of those polled agreed that grandparents should be paid by the government for providing childcare."

do you think that grandparents shold be given 'granny leave'? Should they be financially reimbursed for the time they spend looking after their grandchildren?

Surely if anyone should be paying them it's the parents who are getting free childcare?!

From ofsted document:

"Not allowed to register

You cannot register on either part of the Childcare Register if:
you only care for a child or children who is/are related to you or for whom you have parental responsibility, including any foster children. These arrangements are not included in the definition of childcare "

Oh - didn't realise that, sorry. I had thought that the changes that they'd made a few years ago in terms of care in the home encompassed grandparents too.

I don't think it would make much odds as I'm not sure how many people pay the GPs the going rate anyway...

If the parent is paying the GP £££ then I don't see why they shouldn't be able to have the tax credits/vouchers though. I suppose the worry would be that people would pretend to pay their parents stacks to get the tax credits and the GPs would hand most of it straight back again.

In theory it's a good idea but in practice it would be hugely open to abuse.

I totally agree with shona's point.

The only people supporting this idea are the ones who are telling us that their parents don't want to take money off them for looking after the grandchildren, but then they bleat that they'd quite happily see money taken off the tax payer instead!

Get real!

If you are comfortable with letting grandparents look after your children free of charge while you earn, then do it - don't expect the 'state' (ie taxpayers) to fork out to salve your conscience! If you are on a low income you will qualify for tax credits anyway. And as for the poster who moaned that if she was using a nursery she'd qualify for childcare vouchers, but she feels she's missing out because she's using FREE childcare instead..... For goodness sake, do some people not realise how ridiculous they sound!! If you're that upset about it, use a nursery! But no, that would mean parting with some of your earnings wouldn't it!!

I am all for reforms to support working parents, as it's in the interests of the economy to have adults in work. I think childcare should be tax deductible as it directly enables people to work. However, this is just taking things too far. At the end of the day, people CHOOSE to have children, and also CHOOSE how many children they have (barring accidents/twins etc - but I've been there myself so I know that adds an extra stress!!). Part of taking responsibility as a parent is accepting that if you want high quality childcare, then it will cost you. Why resent that? I see it as money well spent. And I spent several years working and earning virtually nothing over and above the nursery fees for two children, before anyone else whinges about not being able to afford childcare.

I also entirely agree with jazzhands that the system would be hugely open to abuse anyway.

By ssd Wed 25-Mar-09 09:37:28 what about those of us who don't have the grandparents that can provide any sort of childcare, free or otherwise?
do we get compensated for struggling with no help?
do we hell

yes you do !!!!!!
childcare tax credits?????????
working tax credits?????????

But if GP's mind Gc no help at all unless Gp's get registered to muind not only their Gc but have to mind other peoples children too.
So I think you have it back to front.

By violethill on Sat 28-Mar-09 10:39:21
For goodness sake, do some people not realise how ridiculous they sound!! If you're that upset about it, use a nursery! But no, that would mean parting with some of your earnings wouldn't it!!

No that woulod mean leaving your baby/child
with strangers all day until you come home just to put the child to bed.

bb4me i think that where the parents are paying the GPs the going rate there is an argument for them getting the same assistance as others.

But very few do IME.

I think this idea would just create a lot of pressure centred upon grandparents to look after their grandchildren. As other posters have said most grandparents have just retired - they've had their children, worked all their lives and now want a bit of peace.

I know it's a very rewarding time to see your grandchildren but it's also very hard, emotionally and physically, looking after them.

Jazz - That was my original point really. I would like to pay my mum the normal going rate for a childminder. However if I did I would actually be paying MORE because I would not qualify for the voucher system. Basically the current syste is set up so that to qualify for the vouchers I would have to put my child in care that I do not feel is good as it would be with my mum as childminders have to look after so many children earn a living wage, where as my mums sole attention will be on my child.

I know Hever.

The thing is, like I said earlier, it would be hugely open to abuse...

By violethill on Sat 28-Mar-09 10:39:21
For goodness sake, do some people not realise how ridiculous they sound!! If you're that upset about it, use a nursery! But no, that would mean parting with some of your earnings wouldn't it!!

No that woulod mean leaving your baby/child
with strangers all day until you come home just to put the child to bed.

bb4me - no, actually, it would mean looking around for the best quality childcare that you can afford, in the interests of your child. Not dumping them on relatives for free.

FGS, please don't resort to using the 'leaving your child with strangers all day' line - it's pathetic.

Violethill, you sound very angry with me for wishing to have my child minded by someone I know and trust will be best for her and wishing to be able to claim childtax benefit to pay towards it, the same as many others claim to pay for childcare.
Paying the most for childcare doesn't guarentee it will be the best whether it is as much as you can afford or not. As for childtax credit maybe being abused if it can be claimed to pay GP's, any and all benefits paid for by the taxpayer (of which I am also one) are open to abuse and are abused by many.

oh and I do not and will not DUMP my child on anyone whether for free or paid for.

I think that it would put a lot of pressure on grandparents to provide childcare.
I may never be a grandparent but ,I if I am, I don't want to be responsible for day to day childcare.
I was a SAHM and I did without the material things that my earnings would have bought. I enjoyed it, but I have done it and moved on, I don't want to do it again when I am older. I will want to be free to go on holiday in term time, follow hobbies, go out for the day, do voluntary work etc.
I would love to have grandchildren to stay or babysit but to do the treats and fun things.
I think it should stay as it is at the moment, families can help if they want to but not expect payment.

bb4me - I think the point is why should the rest of us contribute towards your childcare? I don't have any family who could look after ds for free - I have to pay for childcare. Why should I pay for yours as well as mine when you are getting it free anyway? (Am asking this in a 'it's a reasonable question' tone of voice, not an aggressive one - hard to convey here but I'm not having a go, just trying to explain why I'd object to this.)

Yes, some people do get tax credits, but that doesn't mean you are entitled to a subsidy for your private arrangements with your own family.

bb4me - I used the phrase 'dump your child' deliberately to show you how unpleasant it is when people use unreasonable and emotive language - which YOU did first when you said that people who use nurseries leave their children with 'strangers' all day, just coming home to put their child to bed.

If you don't like it dished back to you, don't dish it out in the first place.

I actually agree with you bb4me, that paying the most doesn't necessarily equate with the best childcare. I looked around a number of nurseries/childminders and the one I liked best wasnt the most expensive (or the cheapest). But neither does using free childcare from a relative make it 'better'. In fact, you could argue that if part of the motivation is that it's free, or you can't afford to pay a more expensive nursery, then you actually have less choice. Many of my friends could use relatives for free childcare but prefer to use nursery.

Anyway, the point as many others keep saying is that if you choose to use a relative and not pay them, you have no right to expect the tax payer to do it for you. That's just greedy and unreasonable.

why is it assumed I don't pay for my childcare because grandparents mind her? I do pay. Not the going rate as i cannot claim childcare credit or vouchers.
So I am probably paying more for my childcare than most.

If you manage to get childcare at a subsidised rate, i really can't see what you're complaining about.

Many people don't get any vouchers or childcare credits and pay the full whack. I really can't see what the whinge is about here - just seems like people who are getting something for free or at least at a reduced rate, are complaining that they want even more money off!!