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Tackling the cost of childcare for UK nurseries

2 mins read Guest Blog
Since the announcement of the 2023 spring budget, there has been much debate around the most pertinent topic facing the entirety of the early years sector — adequate funding for nurseries.
Chris Reid is chief executive of Connect Childcare. Picture: Connect Childcare
Chris Reid is chief executive of Connect Childcare. Picture: Connect Childcare

Back in February, The Department for Education announced the biggest investment into the early years sector to date. By September 2025, the government has announced it is expected to invest double the amount of previous expenditure from £4bn to £8bn each year. Working parents with children from the age of nine months old will also be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare per week under the latest budget pledge.

While the government’s pledge to increase the hourly rate offered to childcare providers to help deliver the 30 hours entitlement is welcomed, there is still uncertainty across the sector as to whether the uplift in funding will be sufficient for early years settings to remain open.

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