Nursery World - 30 hours: How nurseries are making ends meet

Nursery World has spoken to a number of nurseries, including groups and standalone settings, across the country to find out how they are making the 30 hours work.

We looked at their business and charging models and what adaptations they may have made. For most, the rate of funding they receive does not cover the cost of a 30-hours place.

While providers’ approaches vary, they are all asking for a voluntary contribution from parents and/or placing restrictions on when the 30 hours can be taken.

This follows comments from the children and families minister Robert Goodwill last week that ‘most providers’ are able to offer the 30 hours at current funding levels, and those that can’t are ‘outliers’. He went on to question whether providers are struggling because they are working to less profitable ratios or had higher property costs.

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