I see what you're saying (plucking figures is pretty meaningless at this stage
), but the gist of where things look like they're heading remains the same.
I do 'get' that it's all if's, but's, and maybe's, but at the moment that's ALL we have.
I'm all for changes to help parents, but not at the risk of damaging my own way of life. I LIKE being self employed. I LIKE being able to choose parents that I feel comfortable with, I LIKE the fact that parents have chosen ME, I LIKE the fact that I can bend the rules a little because I feel like being nice/kind with no one else's approval to be sought, (parent overslept last week, should have charged, but didn't. It didn't take me over my numbers, I only had to answer to myself, and I knew parent had been working overtime so must have been shattered as she is NEVER late.)
If I wanted to be employed, I'd have sought work at a nursery, a preschool etc
Ratio's this time are remaining the same 1:6, but a small change of having 2 under 1's, and 4 under 5's.
Next time, which there will be, as this change has 'worked so well' maybe the powers that be will change it so that we and nurseries are on the same ratios...?
The government are looking at cutting costs, we all know that the tax credits system as it stands isn't the most reliably monitored in it's current form.
Introduce a route (agency) where the direction of funds is more accountable, kills two birds with one stone - saves the government money, and allegedly saves parents money too.
It's what happens to the independents like you, me and others here that bothers me with this introduction, and no, I realise it won't happen today or tomorrow, (it's going to take some time to put everything in place for this agency model) but in 5 years time where will we be?
It may well be that a choice of agencies means we can opt for one that doesn't change our individuality too much - an LA one for example, might work much the same way as a network does now, so yes, we will have to wait and see what form/s it takes, however I personally still feel very uneasy about where I suspect things are heading - I sincerely hope I'm very, very wrong
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