Where is the care in childcare?
I do not understand what is happening with childcare prices
Alongside the cost of living, I have never seen anything like this!
This is what we hear the parents say
And the Government are only too happy to send you our way
The small businesses and nurseries are in financial crisis
Yet the government just keeps upping the prices
They tell us its mandatory that pensions are put in place
Demanding that the business also pays in a ‘going rate’
There will be fines and penalties for all who fail to do this
This was solely introduced for the governments benefit
People are not earning enough to pay into a pension
So, the government comes along with other things they ‘forgot to mention’
They have declared the minimum wage will increase
Therefore, the nurseries have no choice but to raise fees
The cost-of-living increases with the bills and the wages
More is going out with minimal, incoming staggered payments
There is no more money coming into the business
Yet we are paying out hand over fist
We were unable to furlough our staff during the covid period, told to pay them until further instructed
We struggled through and watched other settings close following directions from a government they trusted
So instead of providing the required support
The government questions if childcare settings are even needed at all?
Whilst our staff are worth their weight in gold
They do their job for the love not for the fortune, truth be told
The settings have no choice but to increase their fees
To retain the well trained, highly qualified staff to meet the children’s needs
Meanwhile the government and councils wash their hands
I have questioned the council directly about the governments allocated money and their plans
The answers are always the same
The money has gone, allocated elsewhere, with always someone else to blame
The industry finds itself questioning its worth
As we have been forgotten, questioned and had our names dragged through the dirt
Whilst we have gone through all this disarray
Ofsted decides to visit and brings along judgement day
They usually come along and point out the obvious
We are lacking funding and support which then equals a lack of resources
For an inner-city nursery in a deprived area of town
Of course, there is wear and tear and signs of being run down
But the professionalism, management, conduct, and love are never lacking
The nursery will never be outstanding due to the lack of financial backing
They compare our independent setting to the upper class providers
And the finances are the only thing which clearly divides us
The Government has done all within its power to destroy our business
And we are grateful to the staff, parents and children who have stuck with us
Please do not think that our childcare is lacking in care
If the government subsidized the increases it insists we make we could be more fair
With no reassurances and support being provided
Our industry feels the brunt of how the funding is divided
we often question how long can we go on like this for?
How long before we join the other settings forced to close their doors?
