Costs rise by 5.9% in a year in Great Britain while availability drops, a report finds.
At Weston Park Pre-school in Southampton, children are lining up with their plates, excitedly pointing out what they want to eat. This is their leaving party, as the nursery is about to shut its doors for the final time.
"Especially when you are on your own as a mum," says Stacey, wiping away tears. "When you go home, you still have the teachers for support." The number of nursery closures between April and December 2022 increased by 87% compared with the same period last year, a survey by the National Day Nurseries Association shows. Nearly a third of the closures took place in the most deprived areas of the UK.
At the same time there is a squeeze on other parts of the sector. More than 10,000 childminders have also closed in the past five years, according to Ofsted. Overall, there are about 26,000 fewer early years places in England than there were at the end of 2018.In Weston, four nurseries have closed in the last six months including Weston Park Pre-school
Many families can also access tax-free childcare, although figures from the Treasury show there has been a £2.4bn underspend since that scheme began in 2017.
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