The findings from a survey by sector organisation Early Education and unions NAHT, NEU and Unison highlight the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on maintained nursery schools.
It reveals that a third of nursery schools were in deficit at the end of the 2019/20 financial year, and that even before coronavirus only a half (51 per cent) expected to balance their books in 2020/21.
Due to increased costs as a result of the pandemic, and loss of parent fees during lockdown, just over a quarter (28 per cent) now expect to balance their budget in the current financial year.
According to the survey, maintained nursery schools reported an average loss of fee income from parents of £36,000 and extra costs of £4,000, putting further strain on already stretched budgets.
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