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Early years capacity warning ahead of free hours expansion

3 mins read Early Years
Councils are warning that an escalation of nursery closures linked to the cost-of-living crisis “will undermine capacity” ahead of government plans to extend free childcare.
Factors in closures include lack of income and rising costs, including rent, wages, food and utility bills, according to the LGA. Picture: Adobe Stock
Factors in closures include lack of income and rising costs, including rent, wages, food and utility bills, according to the LGA. Picture: Adobe Stock

Nine in 10 council representatives surveyed fear closures will put the plans, which include offering working parents of two-year-olds 15 hours of funded childcare a week from April next year, at risk.

The Local Government Association (LGA) published survey found that two in five councils saw an increase in nursery closures during 2022 compared with the previous year. Four in five councils believe nursery closures in 2023 “will be significant”.

Factors in closures include lack of income and rising costs, including rent, wages, food and utility bills.  

Fewer than half of councils are confident their area already has enough childcare places locally to meet current entitlements for children aged two and under, the survey also found.   

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