The Early Years Alliance has launched a new, free Fair Funding campaign toolkit to help early years providers lobby government for significantly more funding into the sector

More nurseries across the UK are struggling to remain open as operating costs increase and inflation rises.

The full toolkit resources  

• A template letter for providers to use to raise concerns about underfunding to their local MP – plus a separate template for parents and carers for settings to share with families at their setting  
    
• A template letter to parents and carers for providers planning on increasing early years fees explaining why they need to do so 
    
• A poster for providers to display in their settings encouraging parents and carers to support the fight for fairer funding (with separate versions for group settings and childminders) 
    
• A simple guide to the problems with the so-called ‘free childcare’ offer for settings to share with parents and carers 
    
• A mini-guide on schools forums and the role they play in shaping local funding decisions 
    

• An early years funding factsheet for providers to use when lobbying local MPs and other local representatives 
    
• A press release template to help providers raise awareness of funding issues in their local press and media 

Additional Alliance resources

• An interactive page which allows providers, parents and carers and MPs to select their constituency and see how their local funding rates, as well as the number of providers, have changed over recent years  
    

• An interactive explainer on early years underfunding for settings to share with parents and carers 
    
• A simple webform where providers can share their contact details so that they can be put in touch with other providers in the same local area to coordinate local campaigning 
    
• An information page aimed at parents and carers.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“It is simply unacceptable that soaring early years costs, driven by years of government underfunding, have not only made it impossible for so many parents to return to work, but have also forced many families turn to extreme measures, such as falling into debt, just to cover costs.  

“Year after year, funding for the so-called ‘free childcare’ offers has failed to keep up with surging costs, leaving nurseries, pre-schools and childminders with no option but to increase fees to stay afloat.  

“The simple fact is that if the sector was properly funded, families would not have to sacrifice their careers to reduce early years costs, and thousands of providers would not be forced to choose between sharp increases in prices during a cost-of-living crisis, or closing completely.   

“Survey after survey and study after study has shown that the current situation is completely unsustainable – and yet the government has wasted every opportunity it has had to deal with this spiralling situation and put in place the funding early years providers need to remain sustainable.  

“The sector has reached breaking point. It is vital, therefore the government commits to adequate long-term funding for the early years in this month’s Spring Budget. Anything less will not only seal the fate of the sector, but will also make it even more challenging for families to access the high-quality and affordable care and education they need.”