Childcare sector in England must not become ‘playground for private equity’, experts say

Exclusive: Increasing involvement of investment funds could leave nursery places at risk

• Golden goose: why private equity is eyeing up UK essential services

England's childcare sector risks becoming a playground for private equity", experts have said, as exclusive analysis from the Guardian reveals investment funds have more than doubled their stake in the sector in just four years.

The findings come as the Treasury prepares to spend an extra 4bn a year of taxpayers' money funding nursery places.