无码天堂

By Shannon Pite

Baby and toddler groups in England are warning of impending closures as rising costs place significant strain on settings, at a time when the need for support for new families is growing sharply during the cost-of-living crisis, a new survey from leading membership organisation the 无码天堂 has revealed.  

Baby and toddler groups, sometimes referred to as 鈥榮tay and play鈥� groups, are groups aimed at families, which provide both adults and young children with opportunities to socialise and take part in a range of early years activities. 

The 无码天堂鈥檚 survey, which ran online from 2 to 16 March and received 272 responses, found that around three-quarters (76%) of respondents had seen the costs associated with running their baby and toddler group increase in the last year, with more than a quarter (26%) reporting 鈥榮ignificant鈥� increases as running costs surged by 20% on average. As a result, one in five (20%) respondents are concerned that their group could permanently close within the next year.   

The survey also found that, despite the fact that three in ten (28%) groups have increased compulsory or voluntary attendance fees (by 15% on average), one in five (21%) have still been unable to cover running costs using the group鈥檚 income alone. Of those, nearly a third (29%) have had to dip into their own personal savings to make up the difference. 

The worrying trend comes at a time when many families with young children are facing a number of challenges amid the cost-of-living crisis and are increasingly in need of support from services like baby and toddler groups. According to the survey, over half (53%) of respondents said families in attendance were facing mental health challenges, while almost the same proportion (52%) said families have been negatively affected by rising energy costs.  

More than half (51%) of baby and toddler groups said they have signposted families to relevant services, such as foodbanks, and a quarter said that they or their group has donated toys, book or other resources (25%) to families. A similar proportion (26%) have reduced the cost of attending sessions for struggling families.  

Recruitment and retention issues were also highlighted as a key struggle with almost three-quarters (72%) citing the ability to attract new staff or volunteers as a challenge. Meanwhile, more than one in ten (11%) said they do not have as many resources, including play equipment, tables and highchairs, as they would like, with many also saying that they have had to prioritise covering running costs over upgrading old equipment and purchasing new resources. 

Further information about the survey findings is available in the 无码天堂鈥檚 new report, Hidden gems: An overview of the challenges and opportunities facing baby and toddler groups.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the 无码天堂, said: 

鈥淏aby and toddler groups are a lifeline for families across the country. Not only do they provide an opportunity for children to socialise, learn and play, but they also offer wide-ranging and much needed support for families which have become even more vital in recent years.鈥� 

鈥淵et as our survey shows, countless groups are being forced to sacrifice not only financial security of the group itself, but in some instances, the personal savings of those who lead them, to ensure they are able to remain open and offer the very best support for families. If this continues, it is clear we will see a significant reduction in the number of groups able to continue operating in the long-term.  

鈥淚t is absolutely vital, therefore, that as we continue to fight for greater financial and practical support for the early years sector more widely, we ensure that this includes baby and toddler groups. At a time when the government claims to be prioritising support for new families, it鈥檚 critical that these vital services are given the help they need to continuing offering care and support for years to come.鈥�