Nine in 10 councils said they were concerned that nursery closures this year would undermine capacity ahead of the extension of the 30 hours free childcare scheme, according to new research.
On day two of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) annual conference in Bournemouth, local authorities are warning that there is a risk that the scheme will not be delivered universally when rollout begins next year.
In March, the chancellor announced that every child aged from nine months to five years in an eligible working family would be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare each week by September 2025. It is currently available to parents from the start of the next school term after a child turns three.
In the report, which was commissioned by the LGA and written by Isos Partnership, 88% of councils that responded expressed concern that nursery closures in 2023 would be significant.
The LGA said that staff shortages and financial difficulties were preventing nurseries from delivering to full capacity, meaning that some nurseries had shut rooms, closed temporarily, or had to limit places for children with more complex needs.
The LGA called for councils to have stronger powers for commissioning provision centrally.
Cllr Louise Gittins, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: ‘The Government’s extension of free childcare is a positive step towards helping working parents manage the high costs of sending their children to a nursery or childminder.
‘However, we have serious concerns about the ability of local areas to secure nursery places, with capacity issues providing challenges to the universal rollout of the extended offer.
‘Nurseries and childcare providers are already under massive pressure, grappling with severe financial and workforce challenges, which has seen staff numbers depleted and an acceleration in places closing.’
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