Wrap around childcare.....
As schools around the country roll out the all new and jazzy wraparound childcare I write with gritted teeth that yet again the working class families are penalised for working!
My children's school have set up a breakfast and afterschool club starting after Easter, funded by the government, however the opening hours and costs are as follows; the breakfast club will open 7.40am-8.40am (When you consider I have to leave home at 6.45 to commute to my place work for 8am, I am unable to use the breakfast club.) and costs £5.50 per child. The After-School Childcare Club will run from 3.15pm-6.00pm, and will cost £9.50 per child until 5.30pm or £10.50 per child until 6pm.
The after school club - depending on traffic issues, most days I am not home until gone 5.30 so will not be able to collect until closer to 6pm so £21 a day for my two, £105 a week.
Now let's play devils advocate here, and I didnt leave for work until 7.45 that would then be £11 a day, £55 a week for breakfast club. So in total £160 a week for wraparound childcare - £5760 a year. Then £1950 on fuel a year, lets also through into the mix of school dinners - £2.85 per day. £14.25 a week - £555.75 per school year per child in key stage 2 - so for me just Lottie at the moment.
£8,265.75 for me to go to work a quarter of my wages- I appreciate its a team effort, but I take the responsibility of paying anything for the girls.
If you are on Universal credit, you can get back 85% of the cost, upto £1,768.94 for 2 or more children per month
What is average nowadays?
Average annual salary in the UK is apparently £37,430 - NOT where I live. The 'median' salary for a woman in the Forest of Dean is £29,700. For a man in the Forest of Dean its £44,000 - Equal rights, Equal pay I hear you cry..... NOT where I live.
What planet are the politicians on..... oh yes the planet of supporting families who can't afford to have children, but do anyway and happily accept the government's freebies. Like where is the fairness in this?
My husband and I work hard, we instill in our children a good work ethic, we don't have posh cars, the latest clothes or shoes, we shop at lidls and grow fruit and veg, we pay ridiculous amounts of tax and have recently had to pay nearly £3000 back in additional tax for claiming child benefit! Which at the time we were entitled to but my husbands wages went over the threshold. Yet we get no support from the government to work.
The funded nursery fees were a godsend, which is why I am confused with this all singing all dancing wraparound childcare. It is not funded for working families. In effect it is reaching out to families who can't afford breakfast for their children so they can cart them off to school an hour earlier. Then the working class foot the bill for subsidising it. It's a ridiculous state of affairs.
My suggestions for equal rights...
What the government should be doing is subsidising everything for the working class, solar panels, new windows, wraparound childcare. Support the workers to make life easier for them to work. Thus inspiring those families who don't work that it is a good thing to get off your ass and work as you can then be entitled to so much financial support. At the moment it's all backwards, in that people get paid a ridiculous amount of money to stay at home and not work, get financial support for council tax and rent, childcare support leaving working families struggling living paycheque to paycheque and often getting 2nd jobs to make ends meet.
Back up.... on second thoughts.....
After writing all of the above and getting wound up and frustrated by how shit the UK system is, I think in reality I just wish society would go back to how it was when I grew up. Dads went out to work and felt valued for providing for their wife and family, that was their purpose. Mums were present at home, maintaining a good home, cooking healthy well balanced meals. Being present at school assemblies and sports days. Having the time to read to children and support their child's learning.
Instead, like me, mums are forced to go back to work full time after 12 months, or even sooner in my case to ensure the government are getting taxes to fill the cougher's. Children are growing up with parents not present, doing anything for an easy life - convenience foods, technology as entertainment, no structure or routine as they are burnt out trying to make ends meet.
There is no work life balance anymore and with the con of social media preying on vulnerable parents looking for a way out of the 9 to 5 way of working, making out their online business solves all the problems, we are then left feeling inadequate and unable to live this way anymore. Unfortunately there is no alternative, which would probably be the reason why the birthrate in the UK is dropping.
What is the point in having children nowadays to throw them into nursery from 6 months for the 'state' to raise them, to remain in the conformist regime of education until they are 18.
We have to change things.....
To enable our children to thrive they must be raised by a community, a family of like minded people all committed to providing for each other. On an equal playing field wanting the same outcomes and love for each other.
Parents should not be seeking permission from the state to take their own children on holiday and then have to pay a fine..... read that again and let it sink in.
They are our children, not an object of the governments to provide financial gain.
We seriously have to wake up and start taking a stance against the way this country is run. I do not mean we take to the streets and riot like ill educated imbeciles have done in the past. But by changing the political landscape of the country. We need political parties to be from working class backgrounds not born out of privilege. More mums wanting better for their children. More Dads wanting to feel valued again, both of whom have faced the struggle of making ends meet in today's society. I am certain that having more mums/dads at home providing a loving nurturing home life for children, the mental health crisis and childhood obesity problems would lower significantly. Reducing NHS waiting lists.
We need housing that has capacity for people to be able to grow their own fruit and vegetables. New homes having fruit trees in every garden. Home economics being taught to every child throughout the school life, just as PE has to remain on the curriculum until a child leaves school. Cooking is just as important as PE when it comes to a childs' health.
I am sure I have said this before, but my Sunday school teacher always said I was the next Maggie Thatcher. Perhaps that is what this country needs!!!!!!
Add comment
Comments