The government is asking for your views on how to encourage affordable childcare

[FrancesMumsnet]

As you may have heard, the UK government is currently holding a commission on childcare, led by Sarah Teather (Minister for Children and Families) and Maria Miller (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions). The commission is looking at how to reduce the costs of childcare for working families, and burdens on childcare providers, without compromising the safety or quality of provision.

As part of the work of the commission, the government is running a consultation process asking for the views of parents and carers, childcare workers, and those with an interest in child development and safety. You can see the details of the commission and its call for evidence here:
media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/c/commission%20call%20for%20evidence%20document.pdf

The consultation is open to all, so do please read and respond directly to the consultation document if you would like to. But we've also been asked to canvass your views more generally via this thread. What are your greatest concerns when it comes to childcare? Would you be happy to see fewer qualifications demanded of childcare workers if it meant more affordable childcare without compromising child safety? Are there any regulations that you think are unnecessary burdens on childcare providers? How can the provision of wraparound care for school-age children be encouraged?

Do take a look at the commission's call for evidence media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/c/commission%20call%20for%20evidence%20document.pdf and post here to let us know what you think.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Well I for one am fairly happy with my experience of French childcare (non-Parisian, which may help!)

It's heavily subsidised and means-tested, so for example we pay ?200 a month for nearly full-time with a childminder. No concerns about the quality of care either. Before this, DS was in a creche part-time which cost almost nothing and was quite nice.

We will probably come back to London and I have no idea what we'll do when it will be more like £200 a week!

I agree the problem is a holistic one. We could manage high childcare costs OR high housing costs, but not both. And moving to where both are cheaper just gives you high transport costs.

Bottom line -- other countries manage childcare much better than the UK does, which means that there are practical solutions, the problem really is one of political will.