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By Shannon Pite

Families across England are facing early years shortages and sharp cost rises, according to Coram Family and Childcare's latest cost survey.

According to the research, only a third (34%) of English councils are reporting sufficient early years provision for parents working full-time, a decrease of 14 percentage points on 2023. Similarly, just over one in three (35%) rare reporting enough provision for children under two, down by 14 percentage points on last year. 

For children with disabilities, the findings were even more stark, with just 6% of councils reporting sufficient provision, down 12 percentage points on 2023.

Looking ahead, while 63% of councils in England are ‘confident’ or ‘very confident’ that there will be enough places to meet demand for the imminent expansion (15 free hours for two-year-olds), just 28% say the same about the expansion from September 2024 (15 free hours from nine months). For the September 2025 expansion (30 hours from nine months), this falls to just 12%, with 90% of councils identifying the local early years workforce as a ‘barrier’ to successful delivery of the 2025 expansion.

The survey also found part-time nursery place (25 hours per week) for a child under two now costing an average of £158 per week, a 7% increase on 2023.

Ellen Broomé, Managing Director of Coram Family and Childcare, said:  

“Our findings – with higher costs and dramatic drops in availability of childcare places – are concerning at this crucial time, showing the scale of challenge and the very real risks around this policy not living up to parents’ expectations. Unless this policy is properly funded and supported, it could have the opposite effect, with families unable to access or afford the childcare they need and the most disadvantaged children set to miss out. 

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

“With just a fortnight to go until the rollout of the extended entitlement offer, this report raises serious questions about whether the expansion is even close to being workable in practice over the long term.

“Not only are parents facing surging early years costs, but the availability of places is plummeting at a time when they are needed more than ever. Despite the government's insistence that the new entitlement offers will be available to all eligible families, it's clear from this report that many councils remain concerned, particularly about future phases of the expansion, with 90% citing staffing challenges as a significant barrier to the rollout. 

Yet, is any of this really a surprise? While nurseries, pre-schools and childminders do their best to provide high-quality, affordable early education and care, years of neglect have left the sector in an utterly dire situation – and without the robust infrastructure needed to roll out the upcoming expansion.

"To say time is running out is an understatement. It is absolutely critical that government wakes up to the reality of the situation and takes the urgent action needed to support early years providers – namely, adequate funding and a clear workforce strategy that focuses on retention as well as recruitment. Ministers chose to make a big promise to families; it's up to them to ensure the sector is able to deliver on it."