The Government is standing firm on its insistence that private and voluntary sector nurseries must not charge any top-up fees to parents for nursery education grant sessions (see News, page 4). However, its refusal to tackle the problems faced by both nurseries and local authorities under the new code of practice could have dangerous consequences. A substantial number of nurseries are heading for financial hardship or worse as they subsidise the cost of providing sessions, or pull out of the nursery education grant scheme and lose children to other provision. Local authorities have been told in no uncertain terms that it is up to them to make sure that sufficient nursery education places are on offer and could feel that they are being made scapegoats for a situation over which they have little control. And if the Government continues its non-negotiable stance, it will only serve to confirm the belief of some of the private and voluntary sector that the ultimate aim is to exclude and marginalise them.
The Government is standing firm on its insistence that private and voluntary sector nurseries must not charge any top-up fees to parents for nursery education grant sessions (see News, page 4). However, its refusal to tackle the problems faced by both nurseries and local authorities under the new code of practice could have dangerous consequences.
A substantial number of nurseries are heading for financial hardship or worse as they subsidise the cost of providing sessions, or pull out of the nursery education grant scheme and lose children to other provision. Local authorities have been told in no uncertain terms that it is up to them to make sure that sufficient nursery education places are on offer and could feel that they are being made scapegoats for a situation over which they have little control. And if the Government continues its non-negotiable stance, it will only serve to confirm the belief of some of the private and voluntary sector that the ultimate aim is to exclude and marginalise them.
A resolution needs to be found quickly or else one of the central planks of the Government's early years policy will be in jeopardy.
Next week, don't miss the start of a fantastic new series by Laura Henry, author of the hugely popular inspection series for Nursery World, in which she will give advice on policies and procedures for early years settings.
