I am mum of 2 boys aged 19months and 4 years, I am
self-employed & my husband is an
aircraft engineer at Heathrow and works a shift pattern of 12hr days. This in
terms of childcare is pretty much a nightmare! We live in the South East so
have to contend with some of the highest childcare costs in the country and
have high living costs too because of where we live. We don’t have a huge
house, we don’t have flash cars, we are just Mr & Mrs Average trying to
provide the best future for our children, just like all other parents!
We are exceptionally lucky that we have family close by that
can help, but we can’t rely on them all the time. My business has started
growing at a rate that I could have never predicted, so I am now in position
that I need to put my boys into nursery in order for me to have the time to
work. Because my husband works shifts this means that at least one of the 3
days they are in nursery they don’t need to be as he is at home. So, that
generally means we are spending about £80 a week we don’t need to, but because
there is no kind of flexible childcare on offer we have no choice.
I want to work and grow my business as at the end of the day
I am still me and not just a mum. I want to be able to pay in the system that will
provide my children’s schooling, which paid for my two emergency c-sections and
brought my boys safely into the world. I want to be a productive member of
society and be the best role model possible for my boys. So, why does it feel
so hard? I know that I am not the only parent in country that feels like this!
I am not saying I want my cake & eat it – I just need
some flexibility to enable me to be the best I can be at both being a mum and
business woman. Yes, these are my choices and I accept that, but I know that we
are not the only family in this position. I have so many friends that don’t
work the normal Monday-Friday 9-5 anymore, the working world is changing and
the government should take this into account if they want to help people get
back into work.
So, when I read this article I started thinking about why
the Danish and Scandinavians for that matter seem to have it right. Yes, we all
know they pay more tax, but it all goes into the system and they pay little or
nothing towards childcare. In
Sweden children between one and six go to pre-school and the maximum a family
pays is £114 per month! Yes, they don’t get Tax Credits and Child Benefit but
the more I think about it, I would gladly give that up to have cheaper more
flexible childcare on offer to me!
There were a few statistics that stood out to me when
reading the article:
·
In
the UK 25% of parents in severe poverty have given up work and 33% have turned
down a job because of high childcare costs – how is the right? People want to work and they can’t
because of childcare costs, it just seems so wrong!
·
63%
of parents in the UK, regardless of income, say they can't afford not to work,
but struggle to pay for childcare – again, just seems so unjust, people need and want to work!
·
Childcare
costs are as high as mortgage or rent payments for 41% of UK families – crazy!
·
The
Institute for Public Policy Research has calculated that universal childcare
would pay its way as the government would be getting back £20,050 in tax
revenue over four years for every woman who returns to full-time employment – powerful statement, Mr. Cameron take
note!
·
A
poll of 1,600 part-time working mothers by the Resolution Foundation found
almost half (48%) on low-to-middle incomes took a less skilled job when they
returned to work. Of those with degrees, 42% have taken a job that required
fewer qualifications so that they would be able to work part-time – the government just this week were
saying they wanted more women in the board rooms of big business, how will this
ever be possible with this happening!
For me childcare issues are just
part of a bigger societal problem, we need to re-think our whole attitude to
working & family. Our children are the next generation of tax payers,
surely investing in their future by enabling parents to work and show a strong
and positive work ethic is in the governments and our best interest? There is
no quick fix to any of these problems but it is Social Enterprise companies
like Essential Care 4 Children, whose aim it is to provide a diverse and
inclusive range of high quality and affordable childcare services, accessible
to all parents that will help us in the right direction!
If you have any comments about how
childcare provision could be improved in your area please get in touch with the
team at Essential Care 4 Children, they are currently working with a wide range
of services providers to offer more flexible childcare provision across the
country.
And if you could spare 5 minutes, they
would love it if you could complete this short questionnaire about childcare http://bit.ly/yTAXAB –
Thank you J
Guest blog written by Stacey Renphrey 21/02/12
