Childcare costs up to £15000 a year

Galaxy

I am not sure what happens in other countries where attendance isnt compulsory but early years are a lifesaver for some of the most vulnerable children in this country.

In China, grandparents retire early, in their 50s, and look after their grandchildren.

It's a lovely family orientated culture and was the model for my amending my life to be able to do the same for my grandson.

Not sure what families do who have lost their parents.

You start with the premise that good childcare facilities benefit the whole of society. Also that mothers and fathers are equal partners in this childcare. The Nordic countries understand this. In the UK it seems childcare is based on the assumption that those who can afford it can avail themselves of it. And that makes us all losers.

There is a scandal now. Those of us born in the 50s have been badly treated. I can't remember the exact year but it was in the 1990s. I was at home looking after my dc. Dh was sorting his pension and wanted to arrange one for me. Because I didn't 'work' I couldn't have a pension. I know now things have changed and some well off grandparents are paying into pension pots for DGC It is unfair that women still suffer financially just because they are mothers. I doubt that will change.

I had my 2 children in the 90’s in the 7 years we had to pay for childcare, we paid approx £45,000 in fees, our first house/mortgage was £41,800.00 and mortgage interest rate was 8% 😬

When child number 4 arrived although their siblings were all at school it was cheaper to employ a Nanny than nursery and wraparound pre/after school care.

She only usually worked three days a week, the others I juggled and took youngest into work with me. It was the school holidays that she was a lifesaver.

(37 years later we are still in touch as are her children and ours)

You can only afford to look after your own children if you have someone else paying all your bills.

The reason it’s women waiting for childcare places is because a) children are still mostly women’s responsibility, and b) women overall generally earn less, a fact exacerbated by having children.

There will be another scandal in 20/30/40 years time, when the lack of childcare > lower earning = low pensions.

The term “childcare” of course covers everything, which is why the heading says up to

Childcare place could be childminder, playgroup, nursery class within a school, private day nursery. Very different 'cost' for each.

JaneJudge

To be fair the OP said childcare place not nursery

I'm not sure what the difference is.

Joseanne

I don't know about all settings, but in my experience nurseries are far more costly to run per head than classes higher up the school. Staff, physical space, equipment etc.

Yes, I think the biggest issue is staff. I can't remember the exact ratios, but I think it's 1:3 for under two year olds. Even though nursery staff aren't paid as well as teachers, it's still a lot of money.

To be fair the OP said childcare place not nursery

I looked after my own children. I regarded that as my job, and I loved it.

I don't know about all settings, but in my experience nurseries are far more costly to run per head than classes higher up the school. Staff, physical space, equipment etc.

You can only afford to spend your whole wages on a nursery place if you have someone else paying all the other bills

Whitewavemark2

I would have thought that the sensible way forward was to see nursery placement as part of the education system - in fact some nursery’s operate out of state schools.

It simply should not be compulsory until a designated age.

They do operate in state schools but parents still pay extra until the children move into the reception class. I am in a fortunate position. I could afford to leave paid work and help my three adult DC with childcare. We can live off of DH income. Many waspi women are forced to remain in the workforce so cannot take on the caring roles they once willingly did.

Galaxy

I am not sure what happens in other countries where attendance isnt compulsory but early years are a lifesaver for some of the most vulnerable children in this country.

In France it is available from 2 in certain places but not compulsory until 3. It seems the law has been recently changed. But they are fed a three course lunch and nap in the afternoon..

Ooops! Thinking about it, I think it was son who had "free hours". He was born in 1997 and also went to nursery from the age of six months.

The main reason the first years are so expensive is because there's a high compulsory staffing ratio.

My daughter is now 30 and was at nursery from six months. Some free hours started when she was about three, although didn't cover the whole day and was only for term time. That must have been in about 2000 or 2001.

Like Grandmabatty my salary went almost exclusively on Nursery fees/childcare for a number of years. It was a decision I took as I knew it would be difficult to get back in the workplace and I needed my skill set to be current. It has been a quandary for parents for years.

We have nursery places at my grandchildren’s school but the hours offered are little use to a full time working mum. My daughter used a nursery for her child for her pre school years and the initial two years were expensive becoming less when the 30 free hours kicked in.
Her and her husband factored in the cost between them even though at the time she was the highest earner.
She also used the tax relief system against the cost I believe.
I don’t ever remember her complaining that the government should pay any more towards this. Her choice to have a child therefore the costs involved were up to the parents
Childcare and the free hours she used didn’t even exist when my children were small

Yes, why only women waiting for childcare? My SIL gave up his job to look after my grandchildren as he earned less than my daughter so it was a no brainer.

I can remember a neighbour complaining about the cost of childcare in the 80's, it has always been a large proportion of income.

I childminded a little girl in the 70's, I was paid 10p and hour! I must have been happy with that though. I had one visit from social services and the fire brigade, and that was that. No official ever contacted me again!

Almost my entire salary in the 80s and early 90s went on childcare costs. We had to be very careful with money. There was no nursery provision like nowadays and I used childminders who my children were fond of. It is a shame that things are still so bad.

I am not sure what happens in other countries where attendance isnt compulsory but early years are a lifesaver for some of the most vulnerable children in this country.

I would have thought that the sensible way forward was to see nursery placement as part of the education system - in fact some nursery’s operate out of state schools.

It simply should not be compulsory until a designated age.