Nursery costs more than a lot of people earn net of tax & tax credits

Legacy_user

There's no point both parents working and using a nursery if nursery costs exceed what one parent makes per hour net - even if one parent isnt at their PAYE or NI thresholds the couple will probably be above the tax credit threshold and thus subject to a 41% withdrawal of benefits on anything earned

kingfisherblue

Some parents prefer to continue to work as a break could be detrimental to their career.

System

Quite possibly, I think it only applies to people either on good income or definitely going somewhere, and only when neither parents career is expendable

Spendless

This is nothing new. Childcare being the same amount as my net income is what led to me giving up my job when my eldest was born almost 16 years ago. No help then via tax credits or childcare vouchers. Fortunately when he was 7 months old, I was able to go and work part-time evenings/weekends when DH was home to care for him.

Jagraf

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

There's no point both parents working and using a nursery if nursery costs exceed what one parent makes per hour net - even if one parent isnt at their PAYE or NI thresholds the couple will probably be above the tax credit threshold and thus subject to a 41% withdrawal of benefits on anything earned

Yep, I worked for a minus amount of money it was also very beneficial for my DD to go to nursery as she loved it - it wasn't the alternative choice I worked so that she could go to nursery, not the other way around.

Jagraf

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Some parents prefer to continue to work as a break could be detrimental to their career.

And also, some people think nursery is a better alternative for their kids - as I did.

System

Could well be fun for them, i worry about trusting him with other people after stuff you hear in the news, I like the time I get with him (although I'm the full timer) - when he's 2 we might take him to playschool for his own sake to socialise and ease into school

Jagraf

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

Could well be fun for them, i worry about trusting him with other people after stuff you hear in the news, I like the time I get with him (although I'm the full timer) - when he's 2 we might take him to playschool for his own sake to socialise and ease into school

So if the choice is preferential that he is at home, then that's the financial commitment to be made, rather than spending on nursery.

Both cost loads - there's no easy way out kids are expensive to bring up.

kingfisherblue

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

Could well be fun for them, i worry about trusting him with other people after stuff you hear in the news, I like the time I get with him (although I'm the full timer) - when he's 2 we might take him to playschool for his own sake to socialise and ease into school

Don't forget that the news only focuses on the few cases where something bad has happened. Thousands of children attend nursery every day and the news doesn't report on it. Staff should be trained and DBS checked (although admittedly a DBS doesn't mean that someone isn't a criminal, it just shows that they have no record on the day of issue). Ratios should be adhered to, and the nursery should be bright and welcoming with a friendly atmosphere.

The vast majority of nurseries are fine, employing staff who want to work with children because they enjoy it.

At some point, your child will attend school, and nursery can help a child to gain confidence and social skills.

I am a Rainbow and Brownie leader. Parents have been trusting me with their children for over fifteen years. As a parent myself ( three children, one with special needs), I know it's hard to trust at times, but it's essential if you want your child to grow and develop into a confident and social person.

System

I think when we do take him to playgroup / possibly a bit of nursery may want to be with him at first to get a sense of it

duchy

Good luck with that
Unless you are police checked parents tend to not want random other adults hanging around their children's nursery.....as you wouldn't either.

Most abused children are abused by parents or another family member though ......so statistically your child is safer at nursery than in his own home.