CYP Now - Childcare provider costs rocket by 20 per cent

Costs for childcare providers have risen by 20 per cent over the last year as they battle to meet increases in staff wages.

The Early Years Alliance has called on all political parties to commit to childcare funding increases ahead of the general election. Picture: Oksana Kuzmina/Adobe Stock

This is far outstripping increases in government funding for nurseries, according to childcare sector leaders, who say extra money is needed to ensure early years remains "viable and sustainable".

The figures have been revealed in the Department of Education's 2019 survey of childcare and early years providers.

The average annual cost to settings of providing childcare this year is £240,333, an increase of 20 per cent of 2018's average of £199,708.

Meanwhile, the increase in council early years funding for 2020/21 is just two per cent.

The Early Years Alliance is warning that "even these small increases may not be fully passed on from councils to childcare providers".

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