Parent-led nurseries: Are they the answer to affordable childcare?

The Start-Up: A new approach is gaining traction as early years provision becomes increasingly expensive and over-subscribed

Parents and children build garden furniture ready for the opening of a parent-led nursery in Deptford, South London (Supplied)

When Debbie Myrie had her first child six years ago, she was amazed to find that parent meet-ups weren’t always the most welcoming places for mums.

But Myrie isn’t the type to do nothing. So she started a WhatsApp group for friendly parents she met and began posting whenever she found a playgroup or a meet-up that she liked. In time, the WhatsApp group evolved into a Facebook group, which evolved into a playgroup.

Now, Myrie is on the board of directors to start a parent-led nursery in Deptford, south London, offering high-quality childcare at an affordable price for local families, designed and delivered by parents themselves.