Nursery World - Early years settings face 'unprecedented threat'

Early years settings will close en masse unless they get a significant funding package of support, MPs and sector bodies have warned.

Lucy Powell (red jacket) has written to the Education Secretary about the threat of mass nursery closures

The news follows the first reading of the coronavirus bill, which will provide powers to instruct childcare providers to close, or stay open for children of key workers, and is expected to become law by the end of the month.

Yesterday Lucy Powell wrote to the Education Secretary warning of ‘an unprecedented threat to nurseries across the UK’.

The MP for Manchester Central said, ‘Without further Government support the majority of nurseries will go out of business and this will undoubtedly have a knock on effect on the entire economy as many workers will be without childcare.

‘On top of this, we are at risk of losing one of the most important aspects of our education system. Nursery schools and early years provision set children up for the rest of their lives and as things stand, many children are at risk of missing out on this.’

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