The South East region experienced a significant closure of early years providers, with 242 establishments shutting down between March and August 2023, as revealed by Ofsted data. Nurseries in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey cited financial constraints and a critical shortage of staff as primary reasons for closure.
Graffham Nursery, a non-profit childcare centre in rural West Sussex, ceased operations due to financial strain and an inability to recruit staff.
Florence Sherwood, the former chairperson of Graffham Nursery’s governance committee, highlighted the immense challenges faced, including escalating bills and staffing costs alongside difficulties in hiring qualified personnel. The nursery, which previously received numerous job applicants, encountered a drastic decline in applications this year, with only two unqualified applicants over six months for an early years practitioner role. The Department for Education acknowledged the local childcare availability issues but emphasized its commitment to the largest-ever investment in the sector to address such challenges.