ESCALATING childcare costs are putting nurseries at risk of closure as Government led schemes are leaving local businesses out of pocket.

Figures show that funding for the 30 hour free childcare scheme falls short of the real cost of care and has caused increasing numbers of nurseries to charge parents for extra services, such as meals, to cover costs.

Wiltshire Council provides the Government funded 30 hour childcare scheme Better 2gether Funding which was used by 83.6 per cent of families across Wiltshire in Spring 2018.

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We have actively promoted this offer to eligible parents and will continue to do so to ensure that they can take advantage of the funding available to assist with childcare.”

Andrew Proctor of South Hills nursery in Corsham said: “It is great for parents, it is a challenge for nurseries. Not all nurseries had to provide the care it was a choice.It is not free childcare, it is funded. We know that some parents had issues getting onto the website and registering last year and we expect there to be a bigger take up this year as more people know about it.

“Making classroom sizes bigger does not work because care has to be based around the child, and we cannot pass n top up fees to parents as that is not allowed.”

Jennifer Morris, owner of BebeTots Nursery in Westbury, said: “We value our staff and want to pay them a good salary but the amount we receive from the scheme is capped. Because of this we have a lot of pressure to put one member of staff in charge of more children whereas we prefer lower ratios. The money has to come from somewhere so it has an impact on business.We have now had to introduce a charge for snacks and meals, although we always offered an all-inclusive price but it is now not sustainable with the funding provided from government. Our parents have been very understanding however and we have a lovely group here.When I had my daughter and went back to work I paid for my childcare and I think as parents that is what we should do. The government is stretched already and we all know the NHS needs money, there is only so much money in the pot to go around.” Analysis from the Trade Union Congress published earlier in the month also found that fees in the South West have increased by 48 per cent, with care for children aged two rising from £159 in 2008 to £236 in 2018.

O but over the same period worker wages have increased by just 24 per cent.

TUC Regional Secretary of the South West, Nigel Costley said: “Working parents have seen childcare fees rocket, as their wages have stagnated and living costs spiral.

“Despite government support, families still face eye-watering nursery bills.

“Britain’s cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on working mums and dads.”