Lack of demand for childcare key reason nurseries stay closed

According to the latest survey by independent sector analysts Ceeda, 59 per cent of nurseries and pre-schools that have stayed closed said low demand meant that it was not financially viable for them to reopen.

The data shows how 480 settings and 378 childminders were operating for the week starting 22 June.

According to the research, the proportion of providers open has gradually increased since 1 June, to 86 per cent.  Average occupancy remains low at 41 per cent. The number of children on roll and attending in the week has risen to 36.

No positive Covid-19 test results were reported for the 14,733 children attending surveyed settings and no positive tests were reported among staff.

Of the 480 nurseries and pre-schools that took part in the research 411 were open and 68 remain closed.

As in previous weeks, most temporarily closed nurseries and pre-schools did not plan to reopen until Septmber (43 per cent), 4 per cent expected to reopen before the end of June, 21 per cent in July, 4 per cent in August and 7 per cent were unsure.

One setting reported permanent closure, citing, ‘Increasing staff costs, living wage rises and redundancy costs.’ Ceeda noted that permanently closed providers may be less likely to take part in research.

Source: Ceeda

Among childminders, the key reason given for remaining closed was because they were predominately concerned about risks to themselves and/ or their families.

Of the 378 childminders that took part in the research, 297 are open and 80 remain temporarily closed. One childminder reported permanent closure.

Over one in three report depressed demand as a reason for continued closure (36 per cent). Concern for the potential risks for attending children (35 per cent) and their parents (29 per cent) remain significant factors. 

Source: Ceeda

Just over three quarters of childminders surveyed were open (79 per cent), one percentage point higher than the previous week. Average occupancy dipped to 35 per cent, from 38 per cent the week before. The number of children on roll stayed at four.

Childminders reported no cases of positive Covid-19 test across the 1,137 children attending surveyed provision in the study week.

Following the wider opening of nurseries from 1 June, Ceeda is collecting weekly data on child numbers, occupancy levels and the incidence of positive Covid-19 tests for staff and children in private, voluntary and independent childcare settings.

• To take part in Ceeda’s independent research into the impact of COVID-19 on the early years sector, register here if you are a nursery or pre-school, and here if you are a childminder.