My constituency and others have seen a huge number of childcare providers leaving the core funding scheme because of the fee freeze, which is kind of a financial straitjacket, with staffing taking up 7% and a lot of huge costs. Meanwhile, the newer ones are able to set much higher fee baselines, although in areas like the Adamstown strategic development zone, SDZ, the rents are so high that we do not have as many places opening as there could be. Will this matter be revisited to look at ways of keeping providers and maybe encouraging some to come back into the scheme? Parents are worried about the massive increase in prices this coming autumn.

Sentiment score: 0.39

Yes, the older ones are leaving because they cannot afford it whereas the newer ones find it easier.

Sentiment score: 0.67