Parents face shock rise in childcare costs as government cuts bite

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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

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