Tulip Siddiq MP

• I AM one of thousands of parents whose child’s nursery has closed completely in this crisis.

Luckily I am able to work from home, challenging as it is with young children around the house.

But for many key workers, including heroic NHS staff, the closure of their early years setting and the lack of alternative childcare often means they can’t go out to work.

Childcare is the fourth emergency service in this crisis, but early years providers are not getting the support they need to stay open for key workers and vulnerable children.

Unlike schools, most of these providers are private businesses which rely on fees from parents.

With their income drying up and rents continuing, they simply can’t afford to stay open when the government is not offering them direct support to do so. The result is that nurseries who desperately want to play their part are being forced to close their doors.

This is putting key workers in a very difficult situation, and making it harder for the most vulnerable young children to get the care they need.

As shadow early years minister, I have repeatedly raised these issues with the education secretary, calling on him to guarantee childcare to those who need it and provide more support for early years providers to stay open.

I’m pleased new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has asked me to continue in this important role on his front bench.

I will work with him and the rest of Labour’s talented new top team to help children, parents and childcare providers through this crisis, and beyond.

TULIP SIDDIQ MP
Labour, Hampstead & Kilburn