But, add to this the fact that the guidance on charging for extras as part of the entitlement offers has been tightened – while funding levels remain wholly inadequate – and it’s clear that policymakers have created a perfect storm.

"Many of you told us that you’ll likely have no choice but to limit early entitlement places, particularly for older children, if not opting out of some funded offers altogether"

At the Alliance, we are determined to do whatever possible to ensure that the sector’s concerns are not only listened to, but acted upon.

Alongside regular ongoing meetings with senior government officials and ministers highlighting the need for urgent action to help strengthen our case for better sector support, last month, we launched a survey asking for your views on how these changes are likely to impact your ability to deliver both existing and upcoming entitlements. Unsurprisingly – but still hugely concerning – many of you told us that you’ll likely have no choice but to limit early entitlement places, particularly for older children, if not opting out of some funded offers altogether.

As we begin the new financial year, we also know that a key challenge facing providers is communicating with families about increases in fees and other costs. To support you with this, we recently updated our Fair Funding toolkit, which includes free resources to help you to explain the challenges facing the sector to families and support your campaign for fairer funding locally.

To support Alliance members to understand and navigate new charging guidance changes, we’ve also compiled the most commonly-asked questions on the new guidance into a new mini-guide and created a simple resource for you to share with families at your setting, explaining what's changed – and what hasn't – under the new guidance. These resources are available to Alliance members in the 'Member benefits and resources' section of EYA Central (under 'Charging guidance FAQs').

Looking ahead, we will be focusing on the Spending Review as a key opportunity to drive positive change for the sector and to hold the government to account on its promise to make the early years a policy priority.

So, as the spring season begins, while it may not have resulted in meaningful change for the sector yet, at the Alliance we will keep fighting to ensure that the sector receives what it needs not just to survive, but to thrive.

• A template letter for you to use to raise concerns about underfunding to your local MP – plus a separate template for parents and carers for you to share with families at your setting
• A template letter to parents and carers for providers planning on increasing early years fees explaining why they need to do so
  
• A poster for you to display in your setting encouraging parents and carers to support the fight for fairer funding (with separate versions for group settings and childminders)
  
• A simple guide to the problems with the so-called ‘free childcare’ offer for you to share with parents and carers
  
• A mini-guide on schools forums and the role they play in shaping local funding decisions
  
• An early years funding factsheet for you to use when lobbying local MPs and other local representatives
  
• A press release template to help you to raise awareness of funding issues in your local press and media.