Peterborough parents warned over increasing childcare demand

Research shows the lack of affordable childcare is a barrier for many people hoping to work

A nursery manager has warned families there are not enough places to meet demand, as free childcare hours are extended.

Parents can now access 15 hours of free weekly childcare for their two-year-olds.

But a Peterborough nursery manager said many nurseries were already full.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said it was the largest expansion in childcare in England's history.

Samantha Hinds, who runs Daisy Chain Day Nursery in Peterborough, said she has had to put some families on a waiting list for September 2025.

Others had been turned away because they do not have enough staff.

"We are a 30-place nursery but we don't have the staff to meet that," she said.

"It's a beautiful job but in the cost-of-living crisis I think the wages put people off so there aren't many coming into this line of work."

Nursery manager Samantha Hinds says she does not have enough staff to meet demand for places

Previously, parents of three and four-year-olds, who work at least 16 hours a week, could claim up to 15 hours of free childcare a week. As of 1 April, this has been extended to parents of two-year-olds.

The full package of 30 hours of free childcare for every child aged between nine months and five years is due to be rolled out in September 2025.

Mrs Hinds said families needed to book childcare places "as far in advance as possible".

"The schemes will help families with finances and it's great the government are doing this, but people are struggling for places already, what will it be like when it is extended again?"

According to Children's charity Coram, the availability of nursery and childminder places has worsened for all ages of pre-school children across England, Scotland and Wales.

By the time the expanded scheme is fully rolled out, BBC News analysis estimated demand for childcare places was likely to have risen 15%.

• Nursery funding issue causing 'real concern'

• 'Childcare puts me in a never-ending cycle of debt'

Peterborough City Council said that it expected nearly 200 places would be needed for children wanting 30 hours of free childcare between now and September 2025.

In a briefing about expanded childcare offers, a council spokesperson said: "As a local authority we will be working with the childcare sector to encourage expansion of the market, including looking at increasing the number of childminders that come into the sector."

A DfE spokesperson said: "Our annual survey of childcare and early years providers showed the total number of paid childcare staff increased by 12,900, or 4%, in the year to 2023, and we've launched a range of new initiatives to boost the workforce, including our national recruitment campaign and £1,000 cash incentive pilot to encourage new staff into the sector."