my god, this lot are stopping childcare vouchers now

silverchair

The cost of living in this country is extremely high compared to other countries. Childcare costs are crazy. I have a well paid job, Its expensive to go back to work after maternity leave due to childcare costs & equally expensive to stay at home.

I know some mums at my workplace that have to return after 3 months of maternity leave. This isnt because they wanted to either.

I think what needs to change is half the population carrying/paying for the other half. Things like a one off payment of £500 for those that arent earning anything for just having kids, healthy eating vouchers needs to be scrapped. You are literally paying people a huge amount of money to have a child, etc. Subsidised childcare costs if you are working a few hours a week/ not working, yet nothing if you work full time. Surely if you are actually working then you need childcare more. If youre not working, your job is to look after your child.

I cannot believe the amount of help thats given especially if both parents dont work & yet those kids still seem to end up being little sods.

PaulF81

Simple solution. Te government should cap childcare costs per hour.

It's quite frankly extortionate. How they can charge what they do for what is effectively babysitting, I don't know.

CLAPTON

PaulF81 wrote: »

Simple solution. Te government should cap childcare costs per hour.

It's quite frankly extortionate. How they can charge what they do for what is effectively babysitting, I don't know.

another leftie that thinks the answer is government interference; the reality is that the reason for the high costs of child care are the absurd policies and continual interference of this (and previous) government

angrypirate

PaulF81 wrote: »

Simple solution. Te government should cap childcare costs per hour.

It's quite frankly extortionate. How they can charge what they do for what is effectively babysitting, I don't know.

An even more simple solution - the government should not give any handouts at all for childcare costs regardless.

mysk_girl

But the the government says they want graduates and well trained people providing childcare. To get good people, you have to pay decent wages. I help run a preschool and the manager is an Early Years Graduate. She gets paid £12/hr for 27 hours a week, 38 weeks a year. Salary of £13,800 pa once I've included her holiday pay. How many graduates would consider that a dream starting salary? We charge £9.85 for a 3 hour session and we struggle to break even.

What would you consider an acceptable hourly rate for looking after children? My childminder charges £4/hour per child. But with the paperwork and preparation required, she must spend 12 hours a day every day working. Is £4/hour too much? What would be too much?

seven-day-weekend

My husband had an 'Auntie Ada' i.e,. a neighbour, looking after him in the 1950s while his mum worked.

Why is this not possible these days? Why is it all so complicated?

CLAPTON

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

My husband had an 'Auntie Ada' i.e,. a neighbour, looking after him in the 1950s while his mum worked.

Why is this not possible these days? Why is it all so complicated?

because mothers are not suitable people to look after young children

one needs professional educators like graduates

and of course unless you have a proper written plan and risk assessment etc for the day's activities you will fail the ofstead inspection.

DaddyBear

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

My husband had an 'Auntie Ada' i.e,. a neighbour, looking after him in the 1950s while his mum worked.

Why is this not possible these days? Why is it all so complicated?

Fear of !!!!!philes
Fear of litigation
Government interference
Loss of common sense

Take your pick

chewmylegoff

mysk_girl wrote: »

But the the government says they want graduates and well trained people providing childcare. To get good people, you have to pay decent wages. I help run a preschool and the manager is an Early Years Graduate. She gets paid £12/hr for 27 hours a week, 38 weeks a year. Salary of £13,800 pa once I've included her holiday pay. How many graduates would consider that a dream starting salary? We charge £9.85 for a 3 hour session and we struggle to break even.

What would you consider an acceptable hourly rate for looking after children? My childminder charges £4/hour per child. But with the paperwork and preparation required, she must spend 12 hours a day every day working. Is £4/hour too much? What would be too much?

That's a salary of well over £20kpa pro rata.

mysk_girl

Yes, but there are no more hours available during holiday time or during the week so earning £20k is never going to be possible. Nor is there any further career progression with us, she already manages a preschool and 7 other staff.