Editor's view

The nursery education grant row is gathering pace, with Kent County Council in talks with the Department for Education and Skills about the new code of practice, and settings from all over the country adding their voices to the protests (see News, page 8 and Special Report, pages 10-11). Children's Minister Beverley Hughes is adamant that the free sessions of nursery education for three- and four-year-olds must remain free at the point of delivery, with parents not asked for direct or indirect top-up fees. This is admirable in principle, but the DfES has signally failed to explain why the private and voluntary providers should have to cope with a huge shortfall in their income as a result. Rocketing costs, including business rates and wages, mean that more and more settings are being affected. What are nurseries meant to do to make up the loss? Charge more for sessions that don't count as 'nursery education'? Hike up fees to parents of younger children? Near universal provision of nursery education for three- and four-year-olds could not have been achieved on current levels of investment without the involvement of the PVI sector. If participation in the scheme threatens sustainability, the success of the scheme and parental choice will be under threat too.