Liz McInnes demands fair funding to protect nurseries

Liz McInnes, Labour Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton

Liz McInnes, MP for Heywood and Middleton, has joined a campaign to demand that the Chancellor delivers the funds to ensure childcare providers avoid closure and are able to meet childcare needs.

Hundreds of nurseries are at risk of closure across the country as a result of the government’s planned changes to early years education funding. The proposals would leave more than one quarter of local authorities nationwide facing a reduction in funding.

In Rochdale borough, figures provided by the National Association of Head Teachers show that in 2015/2016 average funding for childcare providers per hour in Rochdale was £5.16.

In 2017/2018 the new Early Years Funding Formula would mean providers, on average, receiving £4.06 per hour - a reduction of £1.10 per hour. The average reduction across the North West would be £0.36 per hour. Since 2009, 57 childcare providers have already been lost in Rochdale borough.

Childcare professionals, local authorities and parents have been clear that fair and proper funding will be necessary to ensure that the system meets the demands of parents and carers, and that the Conservatives’ manifesto pledge of 30 hours free childcare a week is fulfilled.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Ms McInnes said: "The planned changes to early years funding are terrible news for parents, carers and childcare providers here in Heywood and Middleton and the rest of Rochdale borough. We’ve already suffered - figures show that since 2009 the number of childcare places in Rochdale has decreased by 441 and the number of childcare providers has decreased by 57.

"The government must keep its promise to millions of parents and childcare professionals across the country by offering a fair funding system, in which they would offer 30 hours free childcare per week as they promised during the last election campaign.

"As things stand, their funding plans that will leave our vital early years institutions on the brink. In the Autumn Statement the Government must deliver the funding necessary to ensure the 30 hours pledge is kept, and to secure the long term future of childcare providers across here the country."