With falling occupancy levels, competition from Government-backed initiatives and inadequate payments for the provision of free nursery education, many in the early years and childcare sector will understandably be approaching the coming year with some trepidation.
Chancellor Gordon Brown's pre-Budget report last month offered precious few seasonal gifts, apart from extra money in the form of child benefit to mothers-to-be from the 29th week of their pregnancy. However, he did promise to increase the direct payment for each primary school child from 178 a year to 200, and give more support to literacy programmes, as well as pledging a massive schools rebuilding programme.
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