Following a survey conducted since the introduction of the 30 hours 'free scheme' the PLA have issued the following headline findings:

• Nurseries are making up losses by upping fees for younger children and charging for meals and nappies.
• Only a third of providers are delivering the hours totally free.
• Most providers said the hourly rates they were receiving from the government were below what they charged parents not on the scheme and failed to cover their costs.
• A fifth of providers thought they may not be financially sustainable by next year.

Read about the survey here.