Hackney Council demands childcare review as nursery closes and fees rise

Hackney Council has demanded an urgent government review of childcare funding after a private nursery closed and fee increases continued to draw criticism. The council is asking local families to share their experiences with childcare in the borough as part of its campaign to end what it calls a postcode lottery.

The consultation, open until 11 October 2026, will gather anonymous testimonies from parents and carers. These will be compiled into a report and sent to the government to support calls for a system that is fair and affordable, Hackney Council said on 10 August.

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Nursery closures and fee rises

The private Hackney Day Nursery and Pre-School closed in April after its owners cited a significant rent increase and declining pupil numbers. The closure followed a decision by the previous Labour administration in September 2025 to scrap subsidies for families with a combined income over £55,000.

The move was intended to align with the national expansion of government-funded childcare. However, it sparked immediate backlash from campaign group Protect Hackney Nurseries and the local Green Party, which had pledged to lobby for free, universal early years care in its manifesto.

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After taking control in June, the Greens faced further criticism when plans emerged to raise nursery fees again in September. The increases had been set by the previous administration. Ella Whelan, a campaigner from Protect Hackney Nurseries, accused the party of breaking its manifesto promises.

We want to hear from all local parents and carers that use, have used, or plan to use any type of childcare in Hackney. This could mean their child being cared for in a children’s centre, in a public, private, or voluntary nursery, by a childminder, or through any other formal or informal arrangement.

Cllr Soraya Adejare, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Early Intervention

Mayor of Hackney Zoë Garbett said officers were expediting a review of nursery fees in the borough. Cllr Soraya Adejare, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Early Intervention, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the council would continue to look at what it could do locally to provide support where needed.

Campaigners say problems are clear

Feyzi Ismail, a parent who joined last year’s campaign against fee rises, said she welcomed the council’s efforts to pressure the government but questioned the need for more evidence. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the problems were already well-documented.

Ismail said the fee increases had forced her to move her daughter to a nursery school to avoid paying an extra £400 a month. However, the six-week breaks during school holidays meant she now spent more on additional childcare. She said she had paid £800 for the last three weeks at a holiday camp.

A survey by the charity Pregnant Then Screwed found 89% of mothers and 81% of fathers in the UK use annual leave to cover holiday childcare. A third take unpaid leave. Ismail said the situation was untenable for many parents and carers, adding that media coverage had not prompted government action.

Children’s centres still under threat

In 2024, Hackney Council attempted to close two children’s centres, Fernbank and Sebright, to cut £4 million from its early years budget. The plans were blocked by a judicial review after the High Court ruled the council’s consultation unlawful.

The council said in September 2025 it had no hard plans to revisit the closures but would consult on their future at a later date. When asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council did not provide an update on the status of the centres.

What happens next

Hackney Council’s consultation on childcare experiences closes on 11 October 2026. The submissions will be compiled into a report and sent to the government to support calls for reform. The council has not set a date for a future consultation on the children’s centres.