Fall in nursery and early years childcare providers

More than one in five nurseries and other early years childcare providers in Sunderland have closed since 2015, according to data published by Ofsted.

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has called for “urgent action” to address a funding crisis it says has left more than 40% of providers in England contemplating closure next year.

Any provider who cares for early years children from birth up until the August following their fifth birthday – must be registered with Ofsted.

In Sunderland, there were 183 such providers on the register at the end of March 2018, 52 fewer than in March 2015.

This is one of the biggest drops in providers seen by any local authority in England.

All three and four-yearolds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week during term time.