Mothers on the payroll?

The only subsidy is for pre-school children over 3 who have 15 free hours per week. My GC all had this tacked on to their private nursery care, so the fees for that came down as soon as they hit 3. Both families are a good deal better off now all the GC are at school.

Every three and four year old in England and Wales is entitled to 15 hours a week of preschool provision for 38 weeks a year. I know because my grand-daughter uses it for her little girl. Whether or not the mother works is irrelevant, as is parental income.

It's a really badly written letter.

Nothing to do with schoool education, which is of course free! Are you getting confused with nursery classes in schools, perhaps, jingl?

I don't think that's what the letter-writer means. She's talking about day care for babies and children of any age while their parents work.

Well I suppose that's what the letter writer means. Mums who would rather stay at home are being forced out to work for pay for private nursery fees. Otherwise their children will miss out on important early years education.

Private day nurseries aren't free, jingl! They're bloody expensive - working tax credits go towards the fees in my DD's case, but it's still a big chunk of her actual earnings.

Or is it only working mothers who get subsidised nursery?

Come to think of it, my DD had to pay playgroup fees. Perhaps that is what it means.

I don't understand that letter either. I understand that nursery is good for children, but isn't it free? I mean, like school is "free". Or are there still not enough places?

No, it wasn't you who made the comment I referred to, Greatnan. In fact I can't remember exactly who it was - it just reminded me at the time of the way Jasper Carrott used to make fun of 'Sun readers'.

Oh I don't know, Greatnan , the Beano has had it's moments!

I have no wish to rehash old posts but I think I might have given a few clues as to why I don't like the DM! I have never criticised any individual for their choice of newspaper. I don't really carry a candle for any of them, as I feel the Guardian sold out to Blair and the group is a big tax-avoider. The only publication I respect is Private Eye.

My boss read the Times from cover to cover every day, his wife took the Mail. I wouldn't go so far as not respecting anyone who read it, but the few times I've read it, it always seemed like a red top masquerading as a broadsheet. (I know the Times is now "compact" but hopefully you will know what I mean)

In that respect it fitted my boss's wife perfectly, as she seemed to always be trying to give the impression that she was a sort of upper middle class "laydee", but the odd mispronounciation and table etiquette faux pas let her down.

Mishap , like !

Someone on here actually said they would not respect anyone who read it! I'm not sure why the DM is always singled out for such opprobrium, but no doubt someone will enlighten me.

No, you are spot on!

I always think of the Mail as a sort of "Indignant of Acacia Avenue" paper, but perhaps I'm being unfair?

Congratulations on that, Greatnan.

They don't like me! There's a surprise!
In general, they want to bring back hanging and the birch, put all single mothers out on the street, increase prison sentences tenfold - you can see how well I fit in there.
It does amuse me the way they fill pages with photos of courtrooms or hospitals, as if they add anything to a story. And , of course, being very highly moralistic, they never miss a chance to show scantily clad women and they practically salivate if they can show a 'wardrobe malfunction' showing a nipple. No woman is ever just wearing a bikini on a beach - she is 'flaunting her toned body'. I love it. And it is free.

The question of paying women (why only women) to stay at home and look after their children raises it head on a regular basis. In my opinion this is a non starter - in these days of contraception having a child is a choice so to then expect to be paid to look after that child does seem a little strange.

Yes, I know there are women (and men) who are left alone through no fault of their own to look after children and these are the people we should be helping.

What does the red arrow indicate Greatnan?

I got red arrowed on the Mail comments page yesterday, for saying the story about the Liverpool Care Pathway was just scare-mongering. They don't usually print my comments, as they are nearly always extremely scathing about the way they have treated some story.

phoenix

Well, they've never published any of mine, the bastards.

Must have been really short of letters worth publishing methinks.