Live online chat with The Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP, Minister for Children, on Thursday 24th May 1-2pm

[carriemumsnet]

Hi all

Ok this is your chance to have your say about what, in an ideal world, you'd like to happen to childcare, nurseries and pre-schools (as well as debate what's happening in the sometimes non ideal world). The Rt Hon Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and mum of three, will be joining us for a lunchtime chat on Thursday 24th May, so bring your sarnies, get your questions ready and join us then. For those of you who have unavoidable lunchtime commitments (and letters from your mum to prove it) we'll let you post your questions in advance here. For the rest of you, we'll see you on the 24th.

Nestle?

So when is the 15 hours a week due to come in?

Although I have to say that I was able to get the 12.5 hours for my son over 3 days as far back as 2004. My daughter just turned 3 though!

Have you read and signed the Breastfeeding Manifesto?

Tortoiseshell, yes absolutely. Languages are vital - especially in the modern world and in future it will be compulsory for chidlren to learn foreign languages in primary school. We are also very keen to encourage music because we know it improves a whole range of skills for children, as well as being enjoyable and creative,

Beverley - with respect. I was at school doing GCSEs 14 years ago. We did past papers and it was notable that they were more difficult than the final exams - it was the same with A levels. If GCSEs are not getting easier, why did they have to introduce the A grade, and why are so many youngsters getting 9 As - that was supposed to be for the cream of the cream - pass marks of 85 or 90%. I'm sorry but I can't believe all our youngsters are so much cleverer than we were when I was at school - the only answer is that the exams are getting easier or the grade boundaries are getting lower.

The other point is that whilst the subject matter of the questions may not be easier, the questions are often broken up in such a way that it leads you to the right answer rather than being left to get on with it from scratch.

the labour council in Glasgow ceased funding for it's after-school & holiday activities in six council run initiatives and handed them over to the charity sector, resulting in an increase in payment of £10 per child per week. Would you agree that councils, especially labour councils should be providing affordable quality childcare and should be proud of the after school care they already have, rather than washing their hands and passing it onto charitable status. These six facilities were originally set up in extrememly deprived areas to encourage particularly single parents to work. I feel abbandonned by my local council!

'no such thing as an easy GCSE?'

is that for real?

level 3 Maths in previous years had a circle a square and an oval shape

Q: which of the above shapes is a circle?

another question showed a mannequin in a shop window wearing a coat.

Q. (don't quote on this, but this is the gist) This coat cost £53.75, I gave the assistant £60, how much change did I get?

I was doing this stuff at primary school!

Any answer as to why the government allows employers to deny access to savings on childcare costs from using childcare vouchers without checking the validity of the employers assertion that "its not cost effective for US the employer" ?

Two identical families with identical earnings using the same childcare provider can have anywere up to £2,000 p.a. difference in their family income as a result of being employed by different companies.

It's such an unfair lottery.

Thank you for your reply to my question Beverley. I do feel, however, that the govt's substantially increased targets for university admissions inevitably mean that standards will have changed.

Beverley - thanks for that, that's great, do you know when? My eldest ds is Yr1, would love him to do some while still at primary

would appreciate an answer to my questions:

when is affordable childcare going to be available? Yes it is all very well encouraging women to work after having a family but childcare costs are huge and you have to earn a fair whack to make it worthwhile. Whilst there is help available in tax credits etc what about those who just miss out - doesn't me we are all stinking rich and can afford the huge costs you know. Also as Twinklemegan saus just living in certain areas makes you worse off ...

I can see lots of questions coming up about tax credits, vouchers and your worries about how complex the system is.

I know it's not straightforward, but using the tax credit system means we can make sure we're providing financial support for childcare that really meets the needs of indivdiual families and is in line with what thier income is at the time, not retrosepctively, as most benefits are.

On Childcare vouchers, Grr asked about this. Childcare vouchers are a benefit-in kind provided by employers to their staff (ie. a benefit that?s not cash). So childcare vouchers are part of the employer-employee relationship ? part of the whole remuneration package that employers offer. So, apart from setting a national minimum wage, that?s a matter between employers and their employees. But we do want employers to take it up, we give them an incentive to do so, and encourage this as good practice.

Tetti thanks for your question on childcare costs in Scandanavia. The Scandinavians have created strong universal childcare systems, like the one we are building. But it has taken them decades to get there. This country only started in 1997 with this Government. Since then, we have invested over £21 billion in expanding early years and childcare services. In 2005-06 we spent well over 3 times more than the annual spend we inherited in 1997-98. And this has resulted in a string of tangible improvements for children and families.

The amount of income families spend on childcare in Scandinavian countries is not quite as low as 1% (nor does all of salary in the UK go on childcare costs!) but is estimated as between 2-5% depending on the country, income levels and age of child (OECD 2006). You also have to weigh these low parental contributions against the much higher personal tax rates ? everyone pays more tax to get these benefits.

what about the breastfeeding questions, Beverley, and the Nestle ones? it's deadly important stuff, really, please don't miss them out...

Thanks, Aitch - was just about to

i do find it rather depressing that no questions on breastfeeding have been answered, as if it is a minor issue.

I'm giving her a chance, Ruty - but if they're not answered, I will get a bit cross.

Please go back to your office and have a look into disabled children in mainstream schools

(this is not a question - you don't have to answer it - just look)

please make sure that local authorities have to give parents of disabled children the same choice as any other parents in terms of schools

not just saying 'there are ramps in this school so you can go there, rather than to the one up the road'

also providing disabled sporting facilities for primary school children at a time in their life where they are just realising how difficult it is to join in with mainstream sporting activities

children with learning difficulties in special schools get special sessions eg swimming sessions in hydrotherapy pools, visiting specialists, but physically disabled children in mainstream schools do not

thank you

No avoiding the question, surely????

Yes, this issue on breastfeeding was one taken up by the erstwhile head of the Maternity Alliance some years ago. What happened to that?

{Obviously I'm not a breastfeeder myself, but I know the individual who headed up the mat alliance at the time }

Currently parents of children under 6 years old and carers have the right to request flexibility at work. I've recently called for the right to request to be extended, not just to all parents, but to all employees because, I agree, tryingtodobest, we need a cultural shift and a big push to get that. But things are really changing, even if it's slower at more senior levels (which men dominate of course). I do believe the argument has been won and I want the Government to push this right much further.

Beverley, what were your experiences of bfing? mine were awful, i never cracked it. but you know, i think i would have with better help... please say you're doing something about it.

The Nestle question's been there since 17th May, so there's been a while to formulate an answer.

at cracked, aitch

I really would like to know the answer to the Nestle question, or at least an acknowledgement of what we are referring to....