Councils fear 'significant' nursery closures will undermine free childcare expansion plan
The early years sector is regularly described by its own leaders as being in crisis. And yet for many working families struggling with living costs, it is needed now more than ever.Affordability is a big issue, with a full- time place for a two-year-old now costing parents some £14,000 a year on average - and in many cases far more.
That means nurseries and childminders will be operating at a loss - as the price they get from government will be less than it costs them to provide - and will lose staff and may go out of business. Hundreds a year have already. Labour's plans are still vague, but I'm told they are hoping to better target support at the poorest families, which the chancellor's policy does not, although there is now more help for those on universal credit.
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