Disadvantaged children impacted by early years costs hike, finds poll

Today 2 mins read Joanne Parkes Early Years

Nurseries are limiting the number of government-funded hours they offer to offset cost hikes, impacting disadvantaged families, a poll has revealed.

Early education providers are taking a number of approaches to cover increasing overheads. Picture: Hopscotch Nurseries

Some 22.9% of providers have made the decision to accept fewer children with additional needs in the last 12 months, with 26.5% considering taking this step in September, according to the survey of 816 early years providers by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition.

The Spending Review 2025, due to be unveiled on Wednesday by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is a “final chance” for government to reverse the trend before September’s full roll-out of the 30-hours offer, says the coalition, which made up of more than 30 organisations including Federation of Small Businesses, Mumsnet, and charity Save the Children.

The findings add to new modelling carried out by consultancy Frontier Economics and commissioned by the coalition, which charts the cost increases.

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