Demand sees unborn babies on waiting list

PRESSURE for places at a pre-school in Yorkshire left it unable to accept any state-funded two-year-old new starters under the national expansion of childcare provision this month.

Demand for space at Wizz Kids PreSchool in Totley, Sheffield, is so intense that 10 unborn babies are on the waiting list for places in 2025.

A further 35 children are waiting for places before July next year but none are likely to get a space unless the nursery obtains funding to expand.

Manager Alison Vickers, pictured, said she was applying for government funding to create the room at the pre-school which was founded more than three decades ago and currently caters for 34 youngsters each day.

She had not been able to find space for any new two-year-olds under the expansion of care this month amid a “big shortfall” in provision in the area.

“Right from the word go, I thought this is just not going to work. I’ve got nothing for that age bracket,” she said. “I can’t even contemplate it before the end of July2025.

“I do feel for anybody looking for places. It’s getting ridiculous and it’s been going on for a while. My heart drops when somebody picks up the phone saying they’re trying to be organised as they need a place in six months as it’s just not far enough in advance.”

She was looking to increase space for two-year-olds by creating an extra room for the age group if a bid was successful.

Applications for funding were being made to Sheffield Council, which has received more than £800,000 from the government to help nurseries, but officials have warned some would not be successful and a bid cap of £50,000 has been put in place.