National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is running a survey throughout January to look at the cost and staffing pressures that nurseries in England, Scotland and Wales are under.
It comes ahead of an expansion of funded places for two-year-olds in all three countries.
In England, two-year-olds from working families will be eligible for 15 hours of funded education from April. In Wales, the Flying Start scheme is being expanded, with more areas coming on board to offer funded places for all two-year-olds. According to the NDNA, the hourly rate to deliver places in Wales has not increased since 2022 when inflation started rising ‘significantly’.
In Scotland, pilots are taking place to widen the two-year-old offer, but there are no dates in place for when this will be rolled out across the country.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said, ‘As Governments across the UK look at making expanded offers to parents of young children, we want to be able to show the reality on the ground for early years providers.
‘When governments are the main customer for childcare places the funding rates are crucial. If they are not paying a fair price, then everyone loses out.
‘With our research we will be lobbying all three governments with the most up-to-date data to demonstrate what still needs to be done in order to support our crucial early years sector.
‘The responses we receive will shape our manifesto ahead of the General Election this year. We will use this manifesto to influence the development of policies by all political parties.’
To fill the survey in, providers will need to know your local funding rates and shortfalls; the proportion of funded children to parent-paid children; percentage increase of their staffing bill and percentage increase in their fees.
Surveys will be open until at least the end of January 2024, with analysis and publication due in February.
- To access the link for the surveys for all three nations, click here
