Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, is warning that the childcare sector is at risk of collapse and is calling for targeted Government support.
Gwynne is calling on the Government to target its financial support at nurseries, childminders and other childcare providers at risk of closure.
Ofsted statistics show that there were 14,000 fewer childcare providers in March 2020 than in March 2015, and the total number declined by 500 in the first three months of this year. Research by the Early Years Alliance suggests that a quarter may not survive.
Andrew Gwynne said:
“Our childcare providers play such an incredibly important role in our communities and the impact that mass childcare closures would have on working parents, disadvantaged children and our economic recovery from this crisis would be devastating.
“Many providers were already struggling before Coronavirus as a result of inadequate support from the Government, but this crisis puts them in even more danger.
“The Government needs urgently to recognise the vital importance of this sector and provide a proper plan – backed with a targeted support package – to save our early years sector.”