A survey of NDNA’s members found that from 108 responses representing 462 settings, 85 per cent had experienced noticeable differences in the patterns of childcare parents need, with the average occupancy rate at 72 per cent.
Most commonly there has been a decline in the number of hours parents are using, with 84 per cent of settings reporting more children attending part time and 56 per cent claiming an increase in parents only using their free entitlement.
Nurseries also reported that their three biggest challenges were increased staff wages, achieving a profit and delivering a sustainable free nursery education offer.
Purnima Tanuku, NDNA chief executive, said: "The decline in occupancy is worrying but could reflect the current rise in female unemployment as mothers who may have been made redundant are now staying at home to look after their children instead of going out to work.
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