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Coronavirus: Nurseries in Wales face uncertain future

Six in ten nurseries in Wales are expected to run at a loss over the next three months, findings from a snapshot survey by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru reveal.
Six in 10 nurseries in Wales are operating at a loss, a month after being allowed to open to more children following the easing of the lockdown
Six in 10 nurseries in Wales are operating at a loss, a month after being allowed to open to more children following the easing of the lockdown

The stark reality of how the Covid-19 outbreak will continue to impact nurseries across Wales comes just a month after early years settings welcomed back all children.

The survey reveals that the number one concern for providers is the number of children attending the settings. Demand for places is not as high as before the crisis, with nurseries planning for an average of just over half of their usual numbers of children coming back. 

With reduced demand and increased operating costs, 61 percent are expecting to operate at a loss over the coming three months while a further 31 percent believe that they will only be breaking even. While funding through the Coronavirus Childcare Assistance Scheme (C-CAS) was broadly viewed positively, question marks over future funding were the second highest concern for providers.

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