Deprived areas worst hit by nursery closures, research reveals

According to a new report by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), Nurseries and the impact of closures in the first year of the pandemic, the number of nursery closures in England has increased by 35 per cent during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the same period the previous year.

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The highest number of closures (13.4 per cent) were found in the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country. More than a third of closures (34.5 per cent) were in the top 30 per cent deprived areas between April 2020 and March 2021.

The analysis also shows that 72.4 per cent of the overall closures were in areas with a funding rate of £5 or less per hour of funded childcare. 

The research, carried out at the end of the last financial year, revealed that 38.4 per cent of all closures were in London and the South East combined.

Latest Ofsted data shows that between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, 3,025 childcare settings across England closed. 

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of NDNA, said: “We are extremely worried that the highest proportion of closures took place in the most deprived areas of England where children are most in need of the high quality early education and care these nurseries deliver. Without this best start in life, the attainment gap will continue to widen. 

“Children need to be able to access the high quality education and care that nurseries can provide to support their development and life-long learning. At the same time, working parents need affordable and accessible childcare options. Without targeted financial support, many more nurseries will face closure, a heart-breaking decision for staff, children and their families.”

NDNA’s report identifies eight “urgent actions” for the government including investment to support nursery sustainability, ensuring early years funding supports the delivery of high quality early education through the next Comprehensive Spending Review and simplifying the funding system for both parents and providers.

A separate report from the Anna Freud Centre found that 66 per cent of nursery staff said the pandemic had impacted their wellbeing and mental health.

The survey of 1,458 nursery staff working in nurseries and preschool settings across England also showed that 50 per cent reported feeling unwell as a result of work-related stress during the past year while just 47 per cent were aware of whether their nursery had a mental health and wellbeing policy in place, and where no known policy was reported, staff stress levels were also found to be highest.