Alliance responds to LaingBuisson childcare market report

12th November 2014

Commenting on the Children’s Nurseries UK Market Report 2014, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said:

“It is positive to see that the UK childcare market is continuing to grow, thanks to the hard work and determination of childcare providers and in spite of the ongoing lack of government support.

“The fact that childcare fees have seen no real term increase in the past year is a testament to the commitment of providers to ensuring that families have access to affordable local childcare. However, as the report highlights, per capita spending on the free entitlement scheme is likely to continue to fall in real terms, putting providers under increasing financial pressure.

“Given the wealth of evidence showing the need for greater investment into the early years sector, it is time the government accepted that its current approach to the childcare market is fundamentally flawed and needs to change. To continue to ignore the funding challenges facing the sector does a disservice not only to providers, but also the parents and children that they support.”

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Notes for editors

Counting the cost, an Alliance-commissioned report into free entitlement funding, found that there is currently:

  • a 18% shortfall in funding for free childcare places for three or four-year-olds, rising to 21% when the cost of unpaid staff hours is taken into account
  • a 15% shortfall in funding for free childcare places for two-year-olds, rising to 21% when the cost of unpaid staff hours is taken into account.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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