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Council blamed in row on grants

A local authority that refused to let a private daycare provider administer the nursery education grant on the grounds that it wanted three- and four-year-olds to take up surplus places in the maintained sector has been condemned by the Government. Knowsley Council on Merseyside told Lorraine Moorcroft that the Hunts Cross facility she opened in Halewood last year would not qualify for the nursery education grant. She already operates the grant at another nursery in Knowsley and one at Huyton in Liverpool.

Knowsley Council on Merseyside told Lorraine Moorcroft that the Hunts Cross facility she opened in Halewood last year would not qualify for the nursery education grant. She already operates the grant at another nursery in Knowsley and one at Huyton in Liverpool.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education and Skills said, 'Knowsley LEA have a legal duty to provide a free place to all three- and four-year-olds in their area. The LEA is operating against our guidance, which clearly states that they should not refuse funding to providers on the grounds that there is already sufficient provision in the area.

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