New research warns the expansion of the funded hours is at risk as 57 per cent of nursery staff and 38 per cent of childminders are considering leaving the sector in the next 12 months.
It comes at a time when the Government is preparing to roll-out the first phase of its expanded funded childcare, which will require an increase in places in early years settings and extra staff to meet a rise in demand.
The report, ‘Retention and return: delivering the expansion of early years entitlement in England’, reveals that two-thirds (67 per cent) of nurseries already have average wait times of almost six months for a place. It says when turnover intention rates are combined with increased demand, an estimated 50,000 additional staff would be needed in 2024 and again in 2025 to maintain existing provision and provide the expanded entitlement.
Published by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC), it also estimates that the number of childcare places in England would need to grow by 6 per cent to meet the increase in demand.
