Easing the early years expense

Even before a baby is born, all but the most fortunate and affluent of parents are faced with a series of difficult and expensive choices.

Aside from having to buy or borrow all the necessary baby paraphernalia, such as clothes, toys, cots and car seats, the tricky issue of how to plan and pay for childcare must be determined.

A few are lucky enough to be able and willing to become full-time parents, or to take a temporary career break. Some manage to switch to more flexible or part-time working to allow both parents to juggle childcare responsibilities between them. Others get free support from grandparents or other family members to enable them to work.

But what about everyone else?

They get to choose from a range of nurseries, preschools and childminders – most of which are excellent, but all of which come with a hefty price tag.

The financial situation doesn't improve until the year before a child starts school, when they are entitled to 15 free pre-school hours a week.

Now an amendment submitted by Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller for debate at next week’s States meeting is raising the possibility of free or subsidised care for younger children.

Some might argue that this is a luxury the island can ill afford right now. But with the potential to help bolster the working population, address declining birth rates and improve educational outcomes for children, it is surely worth considering.