Parents “without options” as nearly 400 childcare places lost across Oldham since 2019 reveal Liberal Democrats   

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has warned of working age families being “left without options” after new research revealed that 393 childcare places have been lost across Oldham since 2019. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The 15 hours free childcare that parents are entitled to for children over the age of nine months was introduced to help working families and help give peace of mind over childcare pressures.  But free hours are no use to anyone if there are no local providers available to take your child.”

House of Commons Library research revealed by the Liberal Democrats shows that the number of available places for children has dropped by 20% across the country since 2019.  Oldham lost 393 places in the same period, a 21% reduction across the borough.   

In April this year, the National Audit Office criticised the Government’s roll out saying that dates for the scheme were decided without the DfE or the Treasury understanding whether the sector would be able to provide the number of places needed. It recommended the DfE continuously review the expansion in case it needs to relook at the timeline due to concerns about place numbers and staffing.

Councillor Sykes said, “The government urgently needs to review the rates it pays providers to ensure they cover the actual costs of delivering high-quality childcare and early years education.” 

House of Commons Library research can be found here. 
NAO Report can be found here.
Please note that provider figures change estimates reflect net change in the number of registered providers – this might not equate to closures as such. For example, a nursery in a given area may have closed but another provider opened a nursery in the same year, childminders may have left the register, but others join to offset changes etc. 
Childcare on non-domestic premises: nurseries and other day care groups Childcare on domestic premises: Working with three or more other adults on premises that are also used entirely or mainly as a private home.
Childminders; caring for children in an individual’s home (or someone else’s home) for payment or reward. Working alone or with up to 2 other childminders.
Changes in the number of providers may not equate to changes in early years childcare places.
The local authority figures may not always sum to the regional and national totals, as elements of estimation may be included in the aggregated totals to account for missing data at local level.

Sykes warns Conservative cuts will hit nurseries in poorest areas hardest (June 2019)
Nurseries in poorest areas under threat from Conservative cuts – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

More from councillor Sykes on local childcare in Oldham (March 2023)
Childcare costs rise by an average £225 in the North West in a single year – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)