I started my nursery six years ago and can only afford to pay my staff the minimum wage, because the only money we have coming in is from childcare fees. We can't tap into other grants or funding, except small business rates relief because we are private.
For the past six years I have earned between 4,000 and 12,000 per year, so it could be said we're not sustainable. However, I do this because I love it and it's my life.
The Government needs to prioritise funding for all nurseries, not just NNI ones and children's centres, then maybe the private sector could pay staff what they are worth and put them in line with staff in these other settings.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here