Piling rising costs on families cannot be the answer. We deeply value our local nurseries, as they play a crucial role not only in supporting families but also in benefiting our society as a whole. But alternative approaches should be explored to effectively support nursery staff wages and enhance children's well-being on the long term. 

As London families, we grapple with the escalating costs of daily life. Expenses such as rent, utilities, food have become an uphill struggle, yet the single most formidable cost we continuously struggle to pay is childcare, and especially for parents with kids younger than 5. As we strive to keep our status quo in a tense economic climate, it is projected that the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) may raise its childcare fees yet again in April. A cost that will inevitably add to our growing financial precariousness, and exacerbate already entrenched social inequalities. 

This potential fee increase threatens to force families to reduce or stop the attendance of their children in the very day nurseries that sustain our careers and the London economy. Rather than nurturing our children's early years development, these nurseries are at high risk of unfilled spots and an even greater financial loss.

We believe in financial transparency. If such a fee increase must go ahead, we demand a full disclosure of how these fees will be used per LEYF branch. Families have a right to understand how their hard-earned money is invested in their children's care and development in such precarious times. Families can no longer bear the burden of a failing system.

Our plea is clear: 

Do not raise the childcare fees at LEYF this coming April. If the increase is inevitable, full disclosure of the fees is non-negotiable. 

We call upon all London families and sympathetic allies to sign this petition. Let us unite against this adversity, protect our children's nursery places, and insist on transparency in our childcare expenditure.

Sometimes, it does take a village. 

Given that this is a nationwide issue, please feel free to copy and adapt this petition for another nursery or group of nurseries.

This petition is part of a broader strategy to reform childcare in the UK. More to share soon.