Shortage of nursery places

[Alice1964]

Any one finding there is a shortage of nursery places? Ringing around in Leicester this week looking for a place for a 3year old and there are waiting lists for places starting in September!

Lots of nurseries are closing down but it’s always been normal to start to look for nurseries at least 6 months in advance and in some areas much longer.

How does this work for parents who are looking for work and under pressure from the Job centre to find work once their child reaches a certain age?

It must be hard. Do you have a job already lined up ? Have you tried childminders instead?

We apply a year in advance where I am.

I’m just so saddened and frustrated by the pressures that are being placed on families.

Do you mean because you have been asked to look for 16 hours of work?

No it’s not a personal situation. I have worked supporting families for many years and I can’t believe how shortsighted this government are.

I reckon they are looking at their numbers. Although gov have said funding rates for 2 yr olds will be ok (but most boroughs yet to confirm). They have not raised the 3-4 yr old rates which are already woeful. I know so many preschools (for age 3 plus) that have closed down. Many nurseries will not see much business sense in taking on loads of 3 yr olds when they'll receive better rates for 2 year olds from April.

I work full time. This isn’t a personal situation. I also believe that as the first and most important people in a child’s life, parents (or carers ) shouldn’t have to work until their child is in full time education. This would save mental health services a fortune!

Really ? the Uk already doesn't have enough tax revenue coming in to fund all the services we need - NHS, benefits etc and you think it's fine for people to stay home until their kids are 18 ? Is this a wind up ? I went back to work part time when my eldest was 5 months old and my ds2 was four months old and dd 6 months old. With the first two I didn't have any choice as we lived abroad in a country where there was no paid maternity leave at all !! They all grew up fine without any mh issues and the eldest two are working and earning good wages themselves.

you can stay off work until your child is five and wreck your career, just don’t expect everyone else to fund it. Booking a place over a year in advance was normal when I booked for my first, who is now doing a levels

We have very newly pregnant mothers booking spaces at the nursery where I work. We're in demand locally and are completely full for the foreseeable future.

I work with 3-5 year olds and the ones that often struggle are the ones solely with their parent who haven’t been to any setting. There are many parents where working would be better for their parents to have more money for the family and for the child to be in an early years setting because they aren’t getting enough input at home.

The sad fact is for many children a nursery or childminder is preferable to them being at home.

Just because a parent doesn’t work it doesn’t make them a good parent, just like working doesn’t make someone a bad parent.

my post stated that until children were in full time education not 18 years of age. I was also referring to the mental health of parents not children. Why are you so angry?

I agree but this should be a choice

Wow.
Major assertation there.
Very questionable though.
There are lots of parents who work, and do better for working outside the home.
There are not many parents who could attribute working outside the home to needing mental health services. That is a ridiculous leap.

My son is 10 and he was added to his nursery waitlist when I was pregnant!! I don't doubt there is a shortage but parents do need to plan ahead.

I have been on a waiting list since last January for a space in July this year!! It's crazy!

Could you look for a childminder in the meantime?

There’s a valid point about mothers on universal credit though. People can’t claim help with childcare costs unless they have a job and they can’t afford to pay out of universal credit so they really can’t plan ahead.

Agree so much with this. A family friend is a SAHM with now 4 year old. She told me recently she has never been to a playgroup, toddler group or library session with the child. Let alone gone swimming or to any sports clubs. Every day they visit the local playground and that's it. I was quite shocked, I see it as essential to ensure my child gets social stimulation and varying experiences.
Child will attend school soon and will have no idea how to interact with other children.

It is a choice.

The choice is to make yourself financially secure before having children, or to choose a partner who can support you, or to find a way to support yourself financially while you are caring for your child ie childminding.

I chose to return to work full time, because the other options didn't work for me and I could work and pay childcare. I found a nursery well in advance of needing it and got onto the waiting list.

Have you been through the list of nurseries and childminders on the council website?

www.leicester.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/nurseries-and-childcare/

Apologies I misread your post as until they are out of full time education😱Sorry. I still think , as others have said that it is beneficial for some parents to return to work earlier though. People are so much better off working on Uc with the work allowances.

Yes that’s where this journey started contacting nurseries with a 5 mile radius of a certain postcode.
4 out of 5 have no places until September and have long waiting lists. I too believe children benefit from preschool experience but it has to be available