Fears for future of nurseries sector

EARLY-YEARS EDUCATION IS AILING DUE TO COSTS CRISIS

- WILLIAM TELFORD

THERE are fears for the future of Plymouth’s nurseries, as a shortage of staff causes costs to soar.

Cheryl Hadland, who runs five city childcare centres, has said they are being hit with soaring inflation, utilities and business rates increases leading to parents finding child care increasingly unaffordable.

She said: “We believe in what we do, and we want to provide the best possible education for children. To do that we need to retain our staff, and recruit more. We would like to attract more people with degrees, but we can’t currently offer them a fair pay rate.”

Ms Hadland, founder of Tops Day Nurseries, recently met Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Labour MP Luke Pollard, Torbay Tory MP Kevin Foster, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Minister for Children Claire Coutinho to discuss challenges facing nursery provision in the South West.