Nurseries have 'third fewer children than normal' - survey

The National Day Nurseries Association asked  providers to give their current occupancy as a percentage of what they had last year. The finding was calculated as an average of based on figures provided by respondents to the poll.

The NDNA survey of 605 nurseries who responded over the last five days, also shows that 23 per cent of families are not sending their children to nurseries due to concerns about the virus.

However, the latest attendance figures published by the Department for Education (DfE) suggest this could be closer to half the usual number (52 per cent) across all early years settings.

NDNA says that the situation is now ‘critical’, as 58 percent of nurseries are not confident they will survive until Easter on the current funding arrangements.
The concerns are compounded over the Government’s plans for councils to only pay nurseries for children who attend.

Since Easter 2020, the DfE has paid all early years providers funding for all children who would usually attend funded places in settings. But despite occupancy rates still being very low, the DfE has decided to only fund places based on one-shot census data taken in the current lockdown period.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the NDNA, said, ‘Since the announcement that schools would be closing to all but vulnerable and key worker children, almost 99 per cent of nurseries have decided to remain open.

‘Those who have closed tell us the main reasons are high numbers of staff absences which prevent them from opening safely or concerns about local case rates.

 ‘Our quick poll shows that 56 per cent of nurseries want more information to reassure parents and employees that staying open is the right decision.

‘Nurseries have now been put in an impossible position due to a number of Government policies. Firstly, if they close they get no funding for two, three and four-year-old places which make up about half of an average nursery’s income.

 ‘If they continue to remain open, they are now only funded for the children who attend – the average nursery has a third fewer children compared with this time last year.

‘Nursery businesses have also had much less support than schools – for example, schools have had support with PPE costs, cleaning, staff absences and access to testing kits – none of which has been made available for PVI providers who have been operating throughout the pandemic.

‘And as community transmission of the virus increases, more staff are having to self-isolate, leaving settings struggling to meet staff: child ratios.

‘Early years settings are the only educational establishments that are open to all and must be prioritised. They need testing kits, given priority for vaccinations and urgent financial support to prevent mass closures across the country.”

NDNA has been asking the Government to publish its scientific evidence behind the decision to allow nurseries to stay open in order to reassure parents and enable more young children to return to nursery where they learn, develop and play with other children.

Speaking during the Westminster Hall debate on the impact of Covid-19 on early years settings, earlier this week, children and families minister Vicky Ford said, 'We currently do intend to go ahead with this year’s census next week. However, I recognise the particular challenge that the sector faces in recording an accurate picture of expected uptake, because of the impact of Covid on attendance and the operation of settings.

'To support local authorities, we will very shortly – very, very shortly – be issuing Q&As to help them interpret existing published census guidance so that census data reflects expected attendance, and doesn’t exclude what is considered to be a temporary absence or closure. This makes sure that children at open providers are counted when they are temporarily not in attendance and that is important for the providers.'

A DfE spokesperson told Nursery World, ‘Keeping nurseries and childminders open will support parents and deliver the crucial care and education for our youngest children. The early years’ experience is vital for a child’s education and it gives them skills like communication that they will use throughout their life and which is not something that can be taught remotely.

‘Current evidence suggests that pre-school children (0<5 years) are less susceptible to infection and are unlikely to be playing a driving role in transmission. 

‘We are funding nurseries as usual and all children are able to attend their early years setting in all parts of England. Where nurseries do see a drop in income from either parent-paid fees or income from DfE, they are able to use the furlough scheme. Working parents on coronavirus support schemes will still remain eligible for childcare support even if their income levels fall below the minimum requirement. We will be closely monitoring both parental take-up of places and the capacity and response of providers, and will keep under constant review whether further action is needed.’

DfE attendance figures

The latest statistics from the DfE show that the number of children taking up an early years place in England, as of 7 January, was at 37 percent of normal term-time rates and just 52 per cent of what the Government would normally expect at this time of year.

As part of the #ProtectEarlyYears campaign, the Early Years Alliance, alongside PACEY and NDNA, is calling on the Government to:

• reinstate early entitlement funding support for settings who have been forced to close or have seen a fall in the demand for funded places
• introduce targeted funding for providers reliant on private income who have suffered from falls in parental demand

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said, ‘While we of course understand why many parents have taken the decision to keep their children at home, the failure of Government to provide adequate financial support to early years providers means that this huge reduction in childcare demand is putting many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders across the country at serious risk of permanent closure.

‘As it stands, early years settings are facing a complete postcode lottery, with some councils continuing to provide funding for children who aren't currently taking up their childcare place, and others refusing to do so. Add to this the fact that providers are also losing private parental fees at an alarming rate, and it's clear that, without help, many in the sector will simply not be able to remain afloat for much longer.

‘Given that the Government's "stay at home" order is likely to remain in place for several weeks, it is absolutely critical that the Department for Education and Treasury stop dragging their feet on this and commit to providing the temporary financial support that providers need to make it through this incredibly difficult period: that means the immediate reinstatement of early entitlement funding at pre-Covid levels as well as emergency funding for providers facing a loss of private income.

‘The Government keeps saying how important a role the early year plays, but what the sector needs is urgent action, not empty rhetoric.’

• The latest statistics on attendance in early years and education settings for the week commencing 7 January is available here