It's not so much a case of survival of the fittest as survival of the biggest, when it comes to primary schools. Small primaries beset by declining numbers are finding themselves increasingly cash-strapped, as funding remains tied to the number of pupils on roll. Closure is the only option for many who can simply no longer afford to ring the bell in the morning.
This has worrying implications for pre-school provision - particularly at a time when the Government is trumpeting its commitment to boost standards in early years education.
Some, such as Dr Alan Marr, senior lecturer in education at the London Metropolitan University, suggest that having fewer children eases the pressure on investment. 'It means provision for childcare gets cheaper for the Government because it doesn't have to fund so many places or teacher assistant jobs,' he says. 'Therefore it can make a commitment, but it is at a time when demand is not rising.'
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