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The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to a DfE's pulse survey of childcare and early years providers. The survey, which was carried out in November 2022 explored the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in addition to the staffing and income challenges nurseries, pre-schools and childminders faced. The survey's report can be read . 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

“This report shows just how risky the government plans to expand the so-called ‘free childcare’ offers are. 

“When nearly half of providers say their income is not covering costs, one in ten say imminent closure is likely and the vast majority are reporting staffing challenges, then it’s clear that the existing system simply isn’t working. 

“Worse still, as the report highlights, despite providers’ very best efforts, continued cost pressures and an urgent need to reduce costs are now starting to impact the quality of education and care they are able to offer.  

“While it’s true that providers have been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis, there’s no doubt that it is the years of government inaction that have created the current catastrophic situation.  

“As such, rather than piling even more pressure on the sector through ever-bigger promises of ‘free childcare’, the government needs to focus on fixing the problems that it itself has created through years of underfunding and neglect.”