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Childcare

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LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 28-Sept-17 17:03:40

Some of you will have taken part in our childcare survey recently but there are a number of other points that have come up since (from us as well as others) that we wanted to get your views on. Don't feel you have to answer all of these by the way, but any thoughts you have we'd be interested to hear.

1) Have grandparents always provided childcare support or do you think they are being relied upon more year on year?

2) Have some of you (or people you know) felt obliged or forced to take early retirement because parents have no other care options?

3) Are parents requiring support those who
a) receive free entitlement but it doesn’t cover their needs
b) those who are not entitled to free hours, and can’t afford to pay for provision

4) What does this say about the current state of childcare provision?

5) Are grandparents getting enough support?

6) Do you find more grandads are involved in looking after grandchildren than in previous years?

Thank you!

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Alima Fri 06-Oct-17 08:40:31

In our case we as grandparents do provide a lot of childcare now. My parents had no help at all with us, all four of my grandparents died before I was born. DH and I had no help with our DC, again both our fathers had died before the children were born and both mothers soon after.
DH had retired by the time our first grandchild was born. I worked part time until our DD2 returned to work after maternity leave. I then gave up work because I could and we had had DGS several afternoons a week. DD1 lives 80 miles away, she and her partner have a lot of childcare help from his parents, both retired.
Our oldest two DGC now go to school. DD1 will get 30 hours free childcare from March for DGD2. (A huge help as she is currently at uni).
I think Government provided childcare should be better.
Are we as grandparents getting enough support? Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the amount of childcare we do. It can be truly knackering! It is easier now that DGS is at school. I do feel guilty that we do not help out more with DD1, she is up to her eyes in it, uni, children, home. Keep having to tell ourselves it is her choice.
DH is a fully hands-on Grandad. Several times he has gone up to DD1's house on his own to look after the girls whilst I am here looking after our GS.
Having said all that I love 'em to pieces and think we are very lucky to have them in our lives.

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