A NURSERY has decided to freeze fees to help hard-pressed parents.

The Barley Barn Day Nursery in North Weald has decided to freeze fees from the day a child starts at the nursery to the day they enter school.

According to the Daycare Trust, the average cost of a nursery place for a child under two has risen by 4.8 per cent in the past year.

The price freeze takes effect immediately.

Nursery director Stacey Smith said: “In order to commit such an important proposal, we will ensure that we research innovative ways of absorbing any costs associated with the price freeze within the business structure, whilst allowing us to maintain the high standards that form part of the nursery's philosophy.”