London childcare providers feel the strain of parents not paying fees

27 June 2011 1 min read Janaki Mahadevan Early Years Childminding Early years education Nurseries

Parents' inability to pay childcare fees has topped the list of concerns for providers in London, the Daycare Trust has found.

A survey of 430 childcare providers across the capital, including private and voluntary nurseries, childminders and after-school clubs, found that 39 per cent were worried about parents not being able to pay fees while 32 per cent said the ability of parents to pay was the factor putting most financial strain on their service.

One in three settings cited local authority cuts as one of the top five problems they face; while half reported increased running costs and decreased demand for places.

Anand Shukla, acting chief executive of the Daycare Trust, said: "A sustainable network of local, high-quality and affordable childcare throughout our capital is essential, not just for the finances of ordinary working families but also for the strength of the economic recovery.

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