A petition is urging the government to increase funding for childcare settings, following a backlash from providers who said the autumn statement "neglected" the early years sector.
The petition, which gained more than 500 signatures in 24 hours, states: “Some early years settings, especially in deprived areas, rely on early years funding to pay staff, bills and maintain high standards, and with the increase in minimum wage some of these businesses may struggle to remain open.
“Additional government funding for early years settings should help reduce the pressures on these settings, and we believe is desperately needed.”
