Knock-on effects

What bedevils a nursery market where under-occupied settings are being forced to close, while others thrive? Simon Vevers looks at the forces behind the changes Atale of three private nurseries: the first has been going ten years, has an occupancy rate of around 98 per cent and a two-year waiting list for its out-of-school club; the second is a neighbourhood nursery turned children's centre with 80 per cent occupancy and a waiting list for babies; the third is sandwiched between Sure Start programmes in a deprived area and occupancy lurches perilously between anything from 20 to 50 per cent.