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Tonight we have data from @suttontrust which shows early years providers - nurseries, pre-schools etc - in England are teetering on the brink due to coronavirus-related financial problems. 1/3 of settings in deprived areas say they face permanent closure, 1/4 in less deprived
Even before the pandemic they were struggling, due to a funding formula they say doesn't cover their costs. 2/3 closed in March and are slowly reopening, with smaller numbers of children in 'bubbles' like in school. All children benefit from early years provision...
without it, disadvantaged children already start school nearly a year behind their peers. Vulnerable 2-year olds get 15 hours of free provision a week in normal times, to try and lessen that gap. 'If we're not here, then who looks after these children?' one provider tells us
The Children's Commissioner for England @annelongfield wants under 5s back in nursery at this key stage or "it could have a profound impact on all aspects of their development. We need to make sure that those children aren't set back for the rest of their childhood".
According to @suttontrust 45% of British parents they polled said lockdown has had a negative impact on their 2-4 year olds. Parents we spoke to for @BBCNewsnight talked of their kids' speech development stalling, lack of confidence and many tears.
It's the latest in our series of reports about what's happening to kids during lockdown, particularly the most vulnerable. London-based @LittleVillageHQ is at the sharp end, like a food bank but supplying clothes, toys & equipment for under 5s. Demand went up 2/3 in March
Founder Sophia Parker says Covid's made things even harder for struggling families. Tony Blair vowed to end child poverty in 2020, instead targets have stalled. "I just know that the children we're supporting will be worse off at the end of this pandemic than they were before"
When it comes to early years, the first 1000 days of a child's life set them up in terms of education, health and other life chances. @suttontrust want £88m of government funding put into early years in England to get them through these difficult times.
The Government told us it's already providing significant financial support to protect childcare providers. Our report on tonight @jennymparks @BBCNewsnight
