Childcare - 9 Months to 2 Years

BSM2014

Hi All, sorry if this is the wrong section as not sure where it would fit into...

Anyhow this is mostly a vent , but would like others view on this...

The government provides SMP for maternity leave upto 9 months for my wife. However there is then a big gap until 2 years where you become eligable for potential free childcare support...

What is it that the government expect mums to do from 9 months to 24 months. Not work and recieve no support? Go back to work but pay for childcare until reaching 2 years? For my wife to go back to work part time it would likely cost us more in childcare, i just find the situation a little baffling and illogical. :mad:

Would be interested to hear other parents view on this?

Thanks

tea_lover

You do know that your children are your financial responsibility right? You should be grateful you get the support you do, not b*tching that it isn't enough.

BJV

Hate to say it but it does not stop there I have two one 11 and one 8. Still paying child care. Still paying everything on my own! Only problem is they get even more expensive!

embob74

I have to agree that childcare costs are ridiculous. I stupidly assumed that after having my child we would get some help towards childcare costs so I could return to work. It turned out that it would cost us more if I went to work than just staying at home!
Unless both parents have high income jobs it is a financial nightmare to go back to work.
It is assumed that working couples don't need any financial assistance and yet a lot of budget cuts have ensured they are the worst hit.

BSM2014

tea_lover wrote: »

You do know that your children are your financial responsibility right? You should be grateful you get the support you do, not b*tching that it isn't enough.

Yep tottaly understand that. We made a decision to have children and it is our responsibility. However it is still a flaw in our govermental system - there is no mechanism for childcare at the end of maternity and until 2 years - so what do they expect to happen?

For instance a married couples tax allowance where i could recieve my wifes tax allowance within my tax code as she would be not working but also not recieving any benefits. That would be a start...

What do other parents do during this period?

sinizterguy

I find it quite baffling that two adults can choose to have a child and then expect the state to foot their bill.

9 months support is apparently not enough.

What did we do ? She went back to work and we paid for childcare. Works for us.

If you're saying child care costs more than work would bring in, seems a fairly simple choice to stay at home and look after the child. Or work out a compromise part time work and pay for just the required child care.

iwilldoitthistime

We paid for our childcare after maternity until age 4/5 when my son started school. The only help we got was the free 15 hours from age 3.


Not sure what else you would expect?

WestonDave

Its not that long ago that there was nothing other than child benefit for parents to cover the period between maternity pay stopping at 6 months and them starting school in the September after their 4th birthday which could mean them being nearly 5 so a 4 year gap wasn't uncommon. Now with mat pay going to 9 months and free nursery education from 2 (that was 3 up to relatively recently!) you have just 18 months on average to fill (allowing for the nursery starting at the term after they are 2 so maybe a few months after). Those parents who really need it get tax credit help with childcare costs - the rest of us just have to cut back and live accordingly. In terms of tax help there is the childcare voucher scheme which at least gives tax relief on costs.






It is worth getting used to it and sorting your finances out because even when they start school you'll have 13 weeks of school holiday to sort childcare for and there is no help for that!

k3lvc

BSM2014 wrote: »

What do other parents do during this period?

Plan
Scrimp
Save
Take advantage of childcare vouchers

In a few years time you'll be yearning for a return to the time when childcare was available 08h00 to 18h00 rather than school times of 09h00 to 15h00

embob74

sinizterguy wrote: »

If you're saying child care costs more than work would bring in, seems a fairly simple choice to stay at home and look after the child. Or work out a compromise part time work and pay for just the required child care.

A big problem is that part-time childcare is more expensive than full-time. The hourly rate is reduced if you book a whole morning, reduced further if you book a whole day and reduced more if you book the whole week.
I also think it insulting that women are expected to be happy with part-time roles which are usually lower paid and at a lower level than they had when they worked full time.
I realised very quickly that there will never be equality while women bear the children.

flea72

BSM2014 wrote: »

Yep tottaly understand that. We made a decision to have children and it is our responsibility. However it is still a flaw in our govermental system - there is no mechanism for childcare at the end of maternity and until 2 years - so what do they expect to happen?

For instance a married couples tax allowance where i could recieve my wifes tax allowance within my tax code as she would be not working but also not recieving any benefits. That would be a start...

What do other parents do during this period?

Claim childcare via tax credits or salary sacrifice nursery vouchers

However, min wage is higher than most childcare establishments charge, so paying for childcare wont totally wipe out a wage. You just have to decide whether its worth working all the hours, to bring home a few extra pounds. I know when i worked p/t in a min wage job, i brought home £50/m after childcare. Some would say its not worth it, but that £50 fed us, so i did it