ABOUT OUR ORGANISATION
‘Free Childcare: The Untold Story’ is a National Awareness Campaign launched by nursery/preschool owners, childminders, early years professionals, and advocates who are speaking out about the unspoken reality behind so-called ‘free’ childcare in the UK.
While politicians promise families 15 or 30 ‘free’ hours a week, the truth is these hours are not truly funded, not to a level that allows nurseries to survive, pay fair wages, or offer the high-quality care children deserve.
This campaign is borne out of frustration, heartbreak, and urgency. Every day, more and more nurseries are being pushed to the brink. Dedicated providers are closing their doors—not due to poor management, but because they simply cannot afford to stay open under the current system. At the same time, families are left in confusion, believing they are entitled to a fully funded service, when in fact the funding doesn’t cover basic costs like food, staffing, equipment, or premises.
Who Are We?
We run nurseries because we believe in giving every child the best possible start in life. We are passionate about early education, inclusion, and creating safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.
But right now, the childcare sector is at breaking point. Many settings, including ours, are being forced to make impossible choices — cutting resources, reducing staff, or closing entirely — because the numbers simply do not add up.
The Problem
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Government ‘free’ childcare schemes are underfunded, meaning nurseries, preschools and childminders are left to cover the shortfall.
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The cost of delivering specialist SEN care — extra staffing, training, resources, and tailored support — is far higher than the funding provided.
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Demand is rising every year, with more children being identified as having additional needs, but no matching increase in sustainable funding.
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Without urgent change, families will face fewer choices, longer waiting lists, and less inclusive childcare options.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about early years settings. It’s about the future of children, families, and the UK workforce. High-quality early years care is vital to child development, social mobility, and the economy. But it is being slowly dismantled by a system that refuses to value it.
We’re telling the untold story—not to blame, but to build bridges between providers and parents, and to push for policy that actually works.
How You Can Help
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Sign our petition to demand fair funding for all children.
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Share our campaign with your friends, family, and community.
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Write to your MP to highlight the impact underfunding is having on your local nurseries.
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Support your local settings — your voice matters more than you think.
Blog
“This Is How It Starts”: What the France Nursery Scandal warns us about the UK’s childcare system
Across France, something deeply uncomfortable is being exposed. Not just individual cases of harm, but patterns. Children as young as three, attending école maternelle (state nursery schools), have come forward describing experiences that range from sexual abuse to...
Questions to Ask Your Local School-Based Nursery (Before You Decide)
Choosing a nursery is a big decision. And with the rise of school-based nurseries, many parents are being told this is the “best start” for their child. But the reality is, not all settings are the same. And not all environments will suit every child. So before making...
An Open Letter to the Department for Education and Olivia Bailey MP
Dear Minister, We write to you as a campaign group representative of the independent early years sector; providers who, for decades, have formed the backbone of early education and childcare across the UK. We are compelled to ask a simple but urgent question: How much...