childcare on daybreak news

[debratina]

just caught the 6 oclock news on daybreak about childcare
and how the government are going to let after schools staying open until 8
removing red tape from childcare providers
its on now discussing it

[EmmaReed84]

I watched that and came on here to mention about it.

I must say I was shocked at schools staying open until 8pm... exactly who will be staying there? Teacher? Assistants? It is a joke.

And that woman Liz Fraser.... Ohhh I was getting cross with her making out all childcare is rubbish, never mind childminders who take children in to their own homes, treat them like part of the family and care for them like our own!!!

I bet there are loads of Mum watching that feeling really guilty about her thoughtless comments! I HAD to work full time, I couldn't afford not to now if I was still in my previous situation I would be sat here crying thinking I am terrible because of her opinion!

[mum26]

Yes I have seen this - also read on The Telegraph online

'Childminders may be allowed to look after more children so that the costs associated with care are spread between a greater number of parents. Other rules may also be relaxed to make it easier for parents and grandparents to look after other people’s children'.

Does make me very concerned for my future - I don't want to be looking after lots of children for the same money. What quality of care is there going to be? Hope the commission do take note of the petition opposing deregulation and the views of current childcare providers.

[stargazer1]

Daybreak have done their usual FB thing this morning and asked for peoples comments on the cost of childcare. Most are as you would expect, childcare is too expensive blaahhhhhh, but one idiot said that childminders are unregulated, you have no idea what goes on behind closed doors and nurseries are a much safer option. Oh for goodness sake! Makes me so cross that uninformed people feel the need to air their opinion! Have people forgotten Little Teds in Plymouth?? The centre of a paedophile ring?? As I see it, nurseries have their place and I respect them completely, but they are busy, children have far less space and individual attention than they get with me. I charge £3.50ph, I have a 22 month old so I can take two under school age, which means I make £7.00 ph. Then I have tax and national insurance. Then I have food. Then I have other expenses. So I would say on an average day I perhaps clear £4.50-£5.00 per hour? Maybe not that much. But I have the pleasure of being able to be home with my DS as well. I hate to sound harsh, but I gave up my job after I had my second child as I didnt have childcare for two children. Why cant other people take the same view? We relied for a year on my partners wage which isnt fab, and we got a bit of help with our rent and council tax and some tax credits. I cant help feeling that the people that moan the most are the people that earn the most! They are your children, they are your responsibility. Surely if you are high flying in your career, you would consider this and childcare before you decide to have children??? Rant over!

[Boris]

Ok Liz Fraser, let's just make childcare less expensive! It really is a simple as that. Silly moo. What about the fact that we actually need an income too! AAAAGGGGHHHHHH! And when I was working and paying for childcare it cost a lot more than 25% of my wage! These people are totally deluded. I'm getting mad now so I think it's time for a cuppa .......

[Trouble]

on my news cfm they are saying that the government want childminders to have the basics maths and english

Do they think we are thick????????

Does any one know a percentage of qualifications childminders have so i can write a message i saw it somewhere but i cant remember where

[debratina]

whoops
just postedthe petition details on facebook for daybreak viewers 4 times lol

[miffy]

whoops
just postedthe petition details on facebook for daybreak viewers 4 times lol

Well done!

Miffy xx

[AliceK]

This week I am working from 7am until 6pm. I am earning the grand sum of £5.61 per hr Gross. The national minimum wage is £6.07. You tell me how I'm meant to cut my charges. I haven't put my charges up for almost 3 years.
I watched this on Daybreak at 6am and then saw some of it again later on with the woman from MumsNet. I had to walk away from it, I was too angry to watch it

xxx

[watgem]

its been on BBC Breakfast too, their reporter says that childminders look after older children, babies and toddlers go to nurseries!!!!they are also mentioning the nutbrown report on qualifications, and ratios, how we should be taking on more children for less moneyI personally do not want to go back to the days when my mum was a childminder, it takes the michael out of the last 6 years I have spent studying for childminding diploma, NVQ 3 and Early Years Degree, I'm already working for peanuts but happy with my lot, however I won't be if I'm having to look after more children to earn the same money, My DO has not replied to any of the emails and info posted on here about deregulation and just avoids answering any questions, if it wasn't for this site i would have no idea what could be happening, so thank you to everyone on this site who is keeping up the profile of this issue

[Bridey]

Even hearing about all this has had me stomping angrily around my house. I'm so glad I don't watch breakfast tv

[miffy]

Even hearing about all this has had me stomping angrily around my house. I'm so glad I don't watch breakfast tv

I don't watch it either (usually on here instead lol) but I was tempted to put it on, then didn't bother because I knew it would make me cross!

Miffy xx

[Bridey]

I've a very jokey good relationship with a mum I work for who is also in the childcare profession ... I've just greeted her with the words "Welcome, and thank you so much for bringing your children to someone who, according to the media is illiterate, overpaid and a potential child abuser"

Her reply was "Well that is exactly why I bring them to you ... we like living on the edge!"

[Trouble]

I've a very jokey good relationship with a mum I work for who is also in the childcare profession ... I've just greeted her with the words "Welcome, and thank you so much for bringing your children to someone who, according to the media is illiterate, overpaid and a potential child abuser"

Her reply was "Well that is exactly why I bring them to you ... we like living on the edge!"

[Lady Haha]

I didn't see the Daybreak thing, but came here after seeing a post on facebook by Pip. I knew you lot would be on it already!

This really worries me. I only care for school children. I am already providing the 'wraparound' childcare that opening schools later will provide.

The school I pick up from took most of my morning business when they started a breakfast club that was 50p to get into! I have one left who needs me from 7am.

However! The school also send out questionnaires yearly asking parents if they would be interested in an after school club and how much they would be willing to pay for this, giving a choice of £8, £9 or £10 per session.
I charge £9 for my session and I provide a cooked evening meal in that, so I've never been too threatened by the thought that a club may open up at school.

But!!! If the government fund the schools to enable them to charge much less, say £5 per session max, I would be in big trouble! Although saying that, I would probably drop my prices to match it and take on more kids after all. Wouldn't be very happy about it though.

I can kind of see where this is going and it doesnt look good for us. The government could save ALOT of money if they funded schools to do this, as it would cut the amount they pay parents in childcare tax credits enormously. They are harping on about good quality affordable childcare blah blah, but all they are really interested in is cutting the amount of money they pay out for help with childcare. I don't think they care what happens to the children or what kind of care they receive as long as it costs them less.

[angeldelight]

I don't watch it either (usually on here instead lol) but I was tempted to put it on, then didn't bother because I knew it would make me cross!

Miffy xx

Same here

Would rather read the forum news

Angel xx

[caz3007]

I had 2 children start with me after school who didnt like the local after school club. They then bought along another 2 who then bought along another 2, all who had been to the after school club. I had these children for 5 years until they were really too old and during that time they were happy to come here.

I only have one full timer at the moment and a couple of others that are a few hours here and there. I dont earn much as am in an area where there are loads of childminders and lots are struggling.

I was gobsmacked to happen across the website of our local council run nursery to see their ratios were much higher than ours. Even the baby room was 1:3. So it just goes to show that children get much better 1:1 attention with us.

I am concerned for my future but do know my full timer is here long term, she is only 2 and mum sees her here in school holidays etc as she is very much part of our family. But I am making plans to leave childcare all together in the next couple of years, for various reasons and I will make it happen. Will probably see my full timer to school and then thats it

[sarak31]

I agree entirely - call me cynical but I think that is exactly what is going on. They need to cut costs - they can't withdraw the tax credit because a) there would be uproar and b) they'd lose the vote of lots of working parens - so they are trying to reduce the cost to government by driving down the cost of childcare whilst dressing it up that they are trying to help parents. If they were then they would be more concerned with the potential damage to the quality of childcare that this would have and the safeguarding risks of deregulation.

[caz3007]

they backtracked on pasty tax and other bits and bobs, lets hope they backtrack on this, trouble is I bet the general public isnt in uproar over the changes, they will just see cheaper childcare, whatever the consequences and run with it

[kel1983]

Im am angry with all the media reports recently.

Who is going to run the after school care. Certainly not the teachers. They already feel they are not getting enough pay. And no one is likely to do it for free. Surely they are going to have to employ atleast one qualified playworker. They will have to get meals in because half the schools dont even have a kitchen. These are all extra costs. So surely the afterschool care isn't going to work out that cheap.

As for childminders cutting prices and taking on more children that is rediculous. The parents I have met care about the amount of children I care for. They would send there child to a nursery if they wnted them to be in a larger setting. They care about who is looking after their child. I have just had a lo return to me after spending 3 months at a sure start nursery. She took him out as she felt he was not getting enough one-to-one.

I see this as the gov trying to cut back on the anount they pay out of childcare tax.

Next they will be hiring people who are on community payback to look after children in gov run nurseries.

Also I should add there are only about 8 children who require childminders at our local school. Surely if the uptake for such care is not a success prices will not be able to be so low.