England's Childcare Crisis: Is Your Child's Place at Risk?
If you’ve been trying to secure a nursery place recently — or you’re expecting a new arrival and thinking ahead — you may already sense that something isn’t quite right with childcare availability in England. You’re not imagining it. Nationally, the situation has reached crisis point, and families across the country are being caught out.
In this post, we want to be transparent with you about what’s happening, why it matters, and what it means for your family right here in Greater Manchester.
What Is a "Childcare Desert"?
You may have seen this phrase in the news. A childcare desert is defined as any area where there are more than three children competing for every single available nursery place. In other words: demand massively outstrips supply.
It sounds dramatic — but the data is stark.
✔️ 45% – of England is classified as a childcare desert
✔️ 1.5M – children in the UK living in a childcare desert
✔️ 3:1 – children per available nursery place nationally
✔️ 8th – England’s ranking out of 9 countries for childcare access
Research by Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute — which mapped childcare access for over 10 million children across nine countries — placed England second worst globally, ranking above only one other nation for poor childcare accessibility. For a country of our size and standing, that’s a deeply troubling result.
“There are more than 3 million children under five in England, but only around 1.06 million childcare places available. The gap is enormous — and it’s families who pay the price.”
Why Are There So Few Places?
The shortage didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of structural underfunding, rising costs, and a staffing crisis that has pushed many nurseries to the brink. Across England, nurseries are closing faster than new ones are opening — and those that remain are operating on increasingly tight margins.
Since 2018, the total number of registered nurseries in England has dropped from around 24,000 to approximately 22,500 — a fall driven largely by the not-for-profit sector, which has seen a 19% decline. Skilled nursery practitioners, who remain chronically underpaid relative to the responsibility they carry, continue to leave the sector in significant numbers.
Meanwhile, demand is rising sharply. The government’s expanded free childcare entitlement — now offering 30 hours a week from nine months of age for eligible working parents — has been welcomed by families, but it has placed enormous additional pressure on an already strained system. Estimates suggest 70,000 new places and 35,000 additional staff are needed just to meet the current expansion.
How Does Greater Manchester Compare?
Here’s some relative good news: the North West is one of the better-performing regions in England when it comes to childcare accessibility. Compared to areas like the West Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North East — which have the most severe shortages — Greater Manchester fares better in the national picture.
But “better than the worst” is not the same as “fine.” Waiting lists at quality nurseries across the region are growing. Parents who contact nurseries when their child is already six or nine months old are increasingly finding they’ve left it too late for their preferred start date. The competition for good places is real, and it’s intensifying.
What’s driving the shortage in our region?
✔️ Rising demand from the expanded free childcare entitlement
✔️ Long waiting lists at established, well-rated nurseries
✔️ Fewer new nurseries opening to replace those that have closed
✔️ Ongoing staffing challenges and high staff turnover across the sector
✔️ More families returning to work earlier due to the cost of living
What This Means for Your Family
The honest reality is this: if you’re waiting to “sort the nursery” when your child is closer to starting, you may struggle to find a place at a setting you love and trust — or in some cases, any place at all near your home.
The families who secure the best nursery places are the ones who plan ahead. Many parents now register their interest before their baby is even born. Others reach out when their child is just a few weeks old, knowing that good settings have long waiting lists and that places go quickly — especially for popular start dates in September.
This is not something we say to create unnecessary pressure. It’s simply the reality of the market right now, and we believe parents deserve to know it.
What WMB Childcare Is Doing About It
Our Nurseries Across Greater Manchester
WMB Childcare operates a family of nurseries across the region, each offering high-quality early years education and care for children from birth to five. Our settings include:
✔️ WMB Carisbrook Day Nursery
✔️ WMB Born2Win Day Nursery
✔️ WMB Born2Reign Day Nursery
✔️ WMB Winstanley Day Nursery
✔️ WMB Hillcity Day Nursery
✔️ Cornerstone Day Nursery
Every one of our nurseries is built around the belief that every child deserves the best possible start in life — regardless of background. We’re proud to be part of the solution to the childcare shortage, offering funded places and working closely with local families who need support accessing quality provision.
We take our role in the community seriously. Unlike some providers that cluster in affluent areas where margins are higher, WMB Childcare has always been committed to serving families across Greater Manchester — including in communities that need quality early years provision most.
But even with the best intentions and multiple settings, our places are finite. And like every nursery in the country, we’re seeing our waiting lists grow.
5 Things Every Parent Should Do Right Now
✔️ Register your interest early — ideally as soon as you know your child’s likely start date, even if that’s many months away.
✔️ Visit the nursery — don’t rely on websites alone. Come and see the environment, meet the team, and ask questions about their approach to early learning.
✔️ Check your funding entitlement — many families don’t realise how much free childcare they’re entitled to. Ask us and we’ll help you understand what you qualify for.
✔️ Have a start date in mind — the clearer you are about when you need a place, the better we can plan with you. September is always the most in-demand period.
✔️ Don’t wait for “the right time” — with the current shortage, the right time to secure your place is always sooner than you think.
A Final Word
The childcare crisis in England is real, and its effects are being felt by families right across the country. Behind every statistic — every “childcare desert,” every closed nursery, every waiting list — is a parent who simply wants the best for their child and the freedom to return to work knowing their little one is safe, happy, and thriving.
At WMB Childcare, that’s exactly what we’re here to provide. If you’re on our waiting list or thinking about getting in touch, please don’t hesitate. We’d love to welcome your family.
✨ Secure Your Child’s Place
Spaces are limited for our new term. Give your child the best possible start in a caring, stimulating environment where their confidence and skills will blossom.
📞 Call us today: 0161 205 9067
📧 Email: info@wmbchildcare.co.uk
