With this December issue we bid farewell to a year that has been eventful – or some might say turbulent – to say the least.
Right now the sector is trying to grapple with the impact of the Budget, and its negative effect on providers’ ability to meet demand for expanded childcare. The hike in NI contributions along with the rise in the national minimum wage are needed like the proverbial hole in the head, given the existing state of the sector. Unfortunately the dots just don’t seem to join up in terms of current policy, as our analysis on page 6 reveals. Our accompanying survey suggests that the change to NIC could add between £50,000 and £99,000 to a significant number of nurseries’ annual wage bills. Also concerning is how the additional squeeze will further undermine the scope for training and professional development of the workforce.
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