Plymouth’s nurseries are struggling to stay afloat. I warned the Education Secretary months ago – but now another provider in our city is going bust. The Education Secretary has failed to step in. It is now too late for nurseries like the Roundabout.

Challenges such as spiralling costs, staff shortages and insufficient government funding have left the brilliant team at the Roundabout Nursey with no choice but to close, leaving over 100 families without childcare.

My inbox is flooded with parents who are rightly worried about finding childcare, with spaces in Plymouth limited. Across the country, two children are chasing every available childcare space

Parents deserve childcare that is readily available and affordable. To give their children the best possible start in life. And to allow parents to get back to work.

Parents deserve so much better. Instead of spin, we need a grown-up plan to deliver affordable and readily available childcare to everyone who needs it. That means proper support to recruit enough staff and to support nurseries, as well as Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision.

Without this we cannot deliver an excellent start in life for every child in Plymouth.

You can read more in the Herald: https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/news-opinion/plymouths-nurseries-struggling-stay-afloat-9060783