The cost-of-living crisis is forcing childcare providers to increase their prices and reduce their staff numbers, a new survey has revealed.
Three-quarters (72%) of local authorities report that over the last year, some or many of their local childcare providers have increased prices charged to parents, according to the new poll.
Published by Coram Family and Childcare (CFC), the survey also revealed that half (48%) of the 131 councils that responded say that some or many providers have had to reduce staff numbers.
Megan Jarvie, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: ‘Childcare and early education is a key part of our national infrastructure: it enables parents to work and boosts children’s outcomes, getting them ready to learn at school and beyond.
‘Pressures on the childcare sector mean that more families are at risk of not being able to find the childcare that they rely on. We urge the Government to make sure that childcare and children’s life chances are at the very heart of their plans to support families through the cost of living crisis.’
Nearly half report that some or many providers have reduced their opening hours (44%) and reduced the number of funded early education entitlement places they can provide (43%).
Over half of local authorities say that the sustainability of childcare providers has been negatively impacted by the rising cost of energy (57%) and food (53%).
