Free nursery places for 2-year-olds to be extended to all low income families

Plans_all_plans

onlyroz wrote: »

Do you think this is good news? Will it impact on your own life? Do you think pre-schooling is good for two-year-olds, and will it enable you to return to work earlier than previously planned?

I think this entirely depends on what sort of parent you are and the situation you find yourself in to be honest. For some 2 year olds, it may be beneficial if all they do at home is watch 7 hours of TV per day. However, if their parents (whether on a low income or not) are out and about at groups with them, teaching them, spending quality time with them etc, then the benefit of having both parents at work will only be financial. The family will need to decide whether the financial gain outweighs what they can provide at home in my opinion.

Personally, I don't believe that a pre-school/anyone else could provide a better early years experience for my daughter, so I stayed at home until she went to school. Obviously, if we couldn't afford to live on the one salary, then I would have to work too and therefore anything that reduced the childcare bill would I'm sure be welcomed.

Our daughter did attend a pre-school when she was 3, as she became eligible for 12 hours of funding. The only reason she went there was because she'd never been away from me and I decided it would be beneficial for her to get used to the idea before starting at a nursery attached to a school at 3.5 years old. So for a term, she went for 2 morns a week (this amounted to 5 hours a week) to a pre-school, but I didn't work while she was there.

However, I do think it seems unfair that someone in brian's daughters situation is unable to access any help like this.

mizscottish

brians_daughter wrote: »

Yes its a brilliant idea IF it was extended to all children IMO. It makes my really angry in all honesty.

I realise some people are 'disadvantaged' through no 'fault' of their own but i have 3 children am a single mother a full time uni student and work 60 hours a week so i dont need to claim things like tax credits etc. I do claim child benefit though - (this is alos something i have struggled with claiming)

My children miss out on a lot of mummy time just so i can support my own family - but thats the way i have been brought up. Inact a few weeks ago i did ask for advice on mse forums about cutting my hours and what the implications for TC etc would be but i have decided to carry on as i am for now. My work ethic and determination to support my family will (i hope) rub off on them and they can also learn to be 'self funding'

Things like this make me think 'whats the point' i could work 16 hours get free school meals and then my youngest would be entitled to funded nursery 12 months earlier .

Anyway rant over. Yes i do think its a good idea but should be extended to all.
ETA - it states one of its aims is to make it easier for parents to go to work... i doubt for the majority this funded nursery time would help or motivate them to gain employment.

I work 16 hours and do not recieve free meals for my 9 year old, my 2 year old is not entitled to the free place as I receive working tax credits... Anybody who receives working tax credit does not get anything else

kj*daisy

It's unfair it only applies if you aren't working, if should apply if you are getting WTC as well on low pay, although I think you then get some nursery fees paid anyway? But if it helps these kids get a better start then its fair on these kids, even though it then gives the parents a benefit that if you go out and work you don't get. So also has the risk of extending the view that someone else is responsible for your children rather than you which some (not all) parents have. But if they have that view anyway, 15 hours nursery is going to help, not hinder the child. However I also think it will be part of lowering the age of kids from 5 to even lower when parents are expected to job hunt not just get income support as well.

go_cat

It says in the article that a toddler could do 2 x 7 hr days at nursery so therefore I feel that this would be only if the mother goes to work.

It drives me mad that people who do not work get more help than people who have to make the choice to work to support their families 2 days free childcare for working parents would make such a difference why should they be treated differently

Sorry for the rant

Treevo

Another bonus for choosing not to work.