GB News’ Anne Diamond has opened up on her anguish upon hearing record statistics regarding the closure of nurseries across Britain.
It comes as the Tory government faces a fresh bout of criticism over its childcare funding, with closures soaring by 50 per cent last year, according to the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).
Some 216 nurseries in England were forced to shut in the 12 months to September, up from 144 in 2021/22.
Speaking on the report, Diamond admits that her “heart breaks” as she reflects on the struggles parents contend with.
“My heart absolutely breaks, particularly for young mums and dads”, she said.
“They want a family, and quite rightly. But the only way you can keep going at the moment is to have two incomes.
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“To try and find a nursery place for your children is impossible, but if you do find it, it’s horrendously expensive.”
The Government announced plans in March to expand childcare, with working parents currently entitled to 30 hours of free childcare a week for children aged three to four.
The new plans will see the scheme eventually being extended to working parents of all kids aged over nine months.
The NDNA’s chief executive Purnima Tanuku told the Mirror that the Government must take action by increase funding to childcare providers amid a staffing crisis.
Jeremy Hunt announced a tranche of childcare measures in March
ParliamentRising energy and food costs are also seen as a major stumbling block for the Government’s plans.
A Department for Education claimed the number of childcare places remains steady, falling this year by just two per cent, despite a reduction in the number of providers.
It comes after a survey suggested last month that childcare and early education reform will be key for four in 10 voters in their decision on who to back in a general election.
The research from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) found that 51 per cent think early education and childcare is about supporting a child’s development and wellbeing, rather than just being a safe place for parents to leave their children.
Almost two-thirds (59 per cent) of voters said they believe good early years education benefits the whole country, rather than just parents, while 42 per cent said childcare and early education reform will be key in their decision about who to vote for in the next election.
The online polling by research agency More in Common of 2,046 adults from across Great Britain in April was published as the EECC – a coalition formed by more than 30 organisations representing parents, children, providers, those working in early education, and businesses – was officially launched at Westminster on Thursday.
From April next year, working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare. This will be extended to working parents of all children older than nine months from September next year.
A Government spokeswoman said: “We are rolling out the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever, expanding 30 free hours of childcare for working parents down to nine-months-old over the next two years, which is set to save a working parent using 30 hours of childcare up to an average of £6,500 per year.
“At the same time, we are increasing the funding paid to nurseries to deliver free government hours with a £204 million cash boost this year and £288 million next year – which can be used to fund staff salaries, training and wider costs.
“By 2027/28 we expect to be spending £8 billion in total every year to support parents with flexible and affordable childcare and give children the best quality early years education.”
