Only half of local authorities have sufficient childcare for children under two, according to Coram survey
By Rachel Lawler
Only half of local authorities say they have sufficient early years places for children under two, according to the latest report from Coram Family and Childcare.
Fewer than one in five (18%) local authorities said they had sufficient places for children with disabilities – that’s 3% decrease since 2022.
Reduced availability
The report also found that 43% of local authorities in Britain said that providers in their area had reduced the number of funded early years places available.
The report also reveals that the average cost of a full-time early years place for a child under two is now £148.63 a week as costs continue to rise.
Over the past year, 48% of local authorities say that some or many providers have had to reduce staff numbers and 44% say that some or many providers have reduced their opening hours.
Urgent reform needed
Megan Jarvie, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: “The need for reform of the childcare system is urgent. As well as eye watering bills, parents are facing widening gaps in availability of the childcare they need. As the Chancellor decides his budget, we urge him to recognise the value of investing in childcare – it is a wise investment, enabling parents to work and boosting the outcomes of young children.”
"Priced out families"
Neil Leitch, CEO of the , commented: “We know, and the government knows, that England’s early years system is fundamentally broken. Years of underfunding has forced providers to raise fees, limit hours, and cut places or risk going out of business. Meanwhile, rising costs have left many parents – and particularly mothers – with no choice but to sacrifice their careers, while putting children at risk of losing out on vital learning and development opportunities – and all because funding for the so-called ‘free childcare’ offers has failed to keep up with rising costs.
“How many more families will be priced out of the early years system before the government admits there is a problem? How many more providers will be forced to permanently close for ministers to accept that the only way to improve the affordability and availability of early education and care is to fund the sector properly?
“The situation facing families and providers is nothing short of a disaster. It is absolutely vital, therefore, that the government commits to fully-funding the early years in the upcoming budget – anything less it risks the complete collapse of the sector.”