new proposals for helping parents - what do you think ?

[throckenholt]

I haven't noticed a thread about this.

In the news today there is talk of conservative and labour plans for parents. Seems to me all these pre-school and after-school clubs, and "free" nursery places do nothing to help family life. I think it would be much better if it was easier if parents of young children (including schoolage ones) could earn a decent living working in school hours and term time only, and working form home more. They seem to want to enable people to work longer hours by paying someone else to look after their kids - so presumably they hardly ever see them ?

What do you think.

'I don't think we are rearing a generation of children who hardly see their parents' - I think we are!!! At least seeing less of them than children used to.

When I was at school I don't remember any kids being dropped off or picked up by anyone other than their parents. I also don't remember so many children having been in nursery before pre-school/school age. In the summer holidays, all the kids were out playing with each other and round at each others houses - not in holiday care clubs.

I personally don't think that the way it is now is particularly healthy for family life.

I await the onslaught.

No, it's the childcare element of the child tax credit, which you get whatever age the child is.

Gobbledigook, I don't disagree - the best thing for children is to have their parents look after them. I think the next best thing is a regular carer with links to other families and the community - relatives, or long-term childminders and nannies. But the right to ask for flexible working makes it more possible for parents to be there for children after school and still work. And fathers have the opportunity to ask for flexible working too - my DH was able to spend 2 days a week with dd for a whole year under the same right. I still think Labour has made a significant and positive change - if mothers and fathers share the childcare it should allow more equality at work and in relationships, and children don't have to suffer.

I don't think anyone could seriously argue that Labour hasn't put this issue on the political map. Last election, and every election before, the Tories steadfastly refused to talk about it. Now they have to - there is simply no going back from the reforms labour have made. Ironically, they're saying things which I believe are more attractive to most mothers than what the Labour party are saying, because they're talking about financing our childcare choices, while Labour are still stuck in talking about subsiding the childcare choices they make for us. If only I wasn't allergic to voting Tory!

We still have to plan meals and do without holidays and DH and I work 9 days a week between us - the cost of childcare is like a big second mortgage. I don't think the Tories would ever deliver on their promises though. And I thought the tax credit subsidised childminders and nannies too (but probably not au pairs). But it's true that those who are profiting from Labour's policy are investors in private nurseries, especially those getting early years funding and offering wrap-around care up to 11. Meanwhile nursery workers get paid about £14,000 per year whereas childminders and nannies can earn more especially taking into account the number of children in their care. I would like to see carers being valued more and the subsidies going into their pockets rather than the shareholders of the nursery businesses.

I agree MuminLondon