She said, ‘Our survey shows that 76 per cent of nurseries are making losses on three and four-year-olds while half of nurseries are losing out on two year-olds. This inflates fees for all parents paying for childcare – both for younger children and additional hours for three and four-year-olds. This is unfair on families and not sustainable for nurseries if parents only use the funded hours.’
Early education places for two year-olds was the focus of a brief address from children’s minister Sarah Teather (pictured). She revealed that Mott MacDonald has been awarded a three-year contract to deliver strategic support for the development of free places for two-year-olds. She urged the sector to provide its input in order to influence its approach to training and advice. During the subsequent Q&A session, delegates raised issues around inadequate funding of free places and affordability for parents, while the Government’s Childcare Commission was welcomed as an opportunity to have a proper discussion about the future for childcare and education. 
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