Nursery World - Nurseries in poor areas facing closure

Childcare providers in deprived areas are twice as likely to close as those in the most affluent areas, according to new research, which also finds that the early years funding shortfall has risen by £50m in a year.

Many providers also report that they have little choice but to pass on the shortfall in funding to parents.

The CEEDA research is published during the Early Years Alliance Fair Future Funding action week, when dozens of MPs are visiting childcare providers in England to witness first-hand the impact of underfunding on the sector.

The survey found that almost one in five childcare providers (18 per cent) now require parents to pay for extra hours alongside the Government’s 30-hour funded entitlement (18 per cent).

For parents using the universal 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds, this is the case for 17 per cent of providers.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included