Nurseries in Nottinghamshire said the Government is "setting us up to fail" after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's announcement to expand free childcare. The move, which will be implemented in 2024, will see 30 hours of free childcare per week for all children aged between nine months and five years old.
Previously, it had only been available to parents of children aged three or four. On Wednesday lunchtime, March 15, the Chancellor announced 30 hours of free childcare for all under-fives from the moment maternity care ends, where eligible.
But nursery owners in Nottinghamshire fear this could 'destabilise their businesses' due to 'the fact that the amount paid from the Government to cover these hours does not meet the provider’s cost of delivery'. Susan Mills, Founder and CEO of Cherubs Nurseries, which owns a number of nurseries across Nottinghamshire, said: "Whilst (the) budget announcement acknowledged the early years sector and pledged support to parents to support with cost, there has been no consideration as to how providers will sustainably be able to provide these.
