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‘We’re turning people away’: City hit by lack of childcare places

Southampton suffering from a lack of childcare places. <i>(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)</i>
Southampton suffering from a lack of childcare places. (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

PARENTS are struggling to find childcare for their children in Southampton with a recent "huge increase" in demand.

Department for Education figures show there are 5,534 places for early years childcare in the city as of December 2022. This means there is only one space per 2.5 children.

Childcare provider Wizkidz Childminding, in Woolston, has said it’s been a “tricky” time.

A spokesperson told The Daily Echo: “We’ve found there’s been a huge increase in our services recently, literally in the last four to six weeks.

“This is because all of the YMCA nurseries closed down last month as they no longer had the relevant support to stay open.

“So, we’ve been inundated from parents across the city who would like to use our childcare services for their children but we’re unable to because we’re fully booked.

“We’re having to turn people away.”

Four Southampton pre-schools closed down in February after talks between providers and Southampton City Council fell through, leaving some parents to give up work in order to look after their children at home.

Wizkidz Childminding added: “We have a rule where we can only have a maximum of six children under the age of eight years old, so it’s quite tricky.

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“Certainly, in Woolston I think everyone is fully booked.

“Through the pandemic, I know there were a lot of childminders who quit because we had to wait ages for grants to carry on, so many people just stopped and went on to other things.

“Along with the shortage of childminders, cost-of-living crisis and YMCA closures, there’s just more children than we have places for at the moment.”

In a statement, Southampton City Council said demand fluctuates and not all parents want places for their children.

The statement added: “Despite the ongoing decline in Southampton’s birth rate, the percentage of two-year-olds accessing their two-year childcare funding has increased from 64 per cent in July 2022 to 88.3 per cent in December 2022, this is above the national average, and 85 per cent of three and four year olds are currently accessing their nursery entitlement.”

They continued: “The council provides an information portal which is open to all parents and carers looking for childcare provision.

“When parents and carers are struggling to find childcare, the council offers a childcare brokerage service to support with their search.”