Poorer families ‘locked out’ of big expansion in free nursery hours, analysis finds

Experts have warned that childcare could become a ‘playground for private equity’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Poorer families are being “locked out” of a big expansion in free nursery hours, experts have warned, as exclusive Guardian analysis reveals that the number of not-for-profit nurseries in England’s most-deprived areas has fallen sharply.

Close to a third of not-for-profit nurseries closed their doors or were taken over by private companies, including private equity firms, in the poorest parts of the country from 2018-2022, according to analysis of official figures.