Labour responds to the fall in the number of nurseries and childminders

Helen Hayes MP, Labour's Shadow Children and Early Years Minister, responding to the fall in the number of nurseries and childminders, said: 

“The latest raft of childcare provider closures suggest Conservatives rushed childcare offer is at risk of falling at the first hurdle: funded hours are no good to parents if there are no nurseries to provide them.

“Nurseries and childminders simply can’t make ends meet yet the Conservatives are pouring fuel on the fire with a funded hours offer that hasn’t been thought through.

“Labour by contrast has asked Sir David Bell to work up our plans to reform early years education so that more families will have access to good quality childcare.”

Ends

Notes

• The number of early years and childcare providers fell by 5% between 2022 and 2023 from 59,400 to 56,300
• The number of registered childminders in the year fell by 10% to 25,300
• Parent fees increased for children aged under two, two and aged three-and-four-years-old.

Source: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-provider-survey/2023