The childcare squeeze has been an issue for decades, but it was only really the last Labour Government that tried to address the challenge, setting up Sure Start and providing more support for working parents through tax credits. We also provided free nursery places for three and four year olds – and were extending this to two year olds.
Since the election we’ve seen childcare provision undermined. There are 400 fewer Sure Start centres than in 2010, and the funding available for councils to train high quality nursery staff has been cut by 40 per cent.
We’re seeing spiralling costs as well – in one central London nursery, the cost of a full time place for one child has reached £42,000. That is a staggering amount – twice the average wage.
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