Parents face shock rise in childcare costs as government cuts bite

Up to half of nurseries set to close or reduce services they offer, survey warns

Parents will be forced to pay higher fees for childcare this year because of a lack of government funding, new research suggests. Nurseries and childminders are being driven out of business, while staff feel stressed, demoralised and even suicidal.

The Early Years Alliance (EYA), a membership organisation representing nurseries and childminders, has accused the government of turning a blind eye to the financial chaos hitting a sector dominated by low-paid female workers, which will be made worse when the national minimum wage increases by 5% on Sunday.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2UqCwrY