Nursery World - Deprived areas hit the hardest as nursery closures increase by 50 per cent

Nursery closures in England rose by 50 per cent in 2022-23 compared with the previous year, with many settings in the most deprived parts of the country forced to shut.

The NDNA analysis reveals a rise in the number of nurseries that have closed over the last two financial years, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

According to new analysis by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), there were 186 nursery closures in England in 2022-23, compared with 124 in 2021-22.

In the last financial year, 37 per cent of the nursery closures were in the 30 per cent most deprived areas of the country. The most deprived wards saw 16 per cent of the total closures.

The NDNA warns that the data raises ‘serious questions’ about whether there will be enough childcare providers and places to deliver the expansion of the funded hours from next April.

The main findings from the analysis include:

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