The nurseries have given Buckinghamshire Council a term's notice that they will withdraw from the free entitlement scheme when the new Code of Practice comes into force.
They include Stepping Stones Pre-school in Amersham, which is run by Tom Hackwood, the group's spokesperson (see News, 4 March). Around 80 per cent of the places at his nursery are funded places.
He told Nursery World the move means that around 120 places will be lost from the free entitlement scheme within a five-mile radius.
'It's too early to know how many parents will leave our nurseries faced with these higher fees, but there have already been some who have given us notice that they will have to take their children out at the end of the summer term,' said Mr Hackwood. 'I would expect to have a better idea by half-term how much we will have been affected.'
He said parents at his nursery had been very supportive. So far, just one has written to say they will not be able to afford the fees from September.
'Most feedback from parents has been totally accepting. They've said we may have to decrease our sessions but we want to stay with you because we're very happy with the provision.'
He added, 'Other nurseries are buying time by trying voluntary contributions. The council has made it very clear that it cannot guarantee that nurseries who leave the scheme will be allowed back into the funding.
'That is making the decision very difficult for some nurseries, especially when we don't know who the Government will be on 7 May.'
Jacqueline McCarthy, who runs Chalfont St Peter Montessori, is one provider who is hoping that voluntary contributions will provide a short-term solution. She is asking parents to give £1.90 an hour for funded places because £4.10 - the rate she will receive from the local authority from September - does not cover the nursery's costs.
This includes employing qualified Montessori staff and having higher adult:child ratios.
The nursery has just been graded Outstanding by Ofsted.
Ms McCarthy said she was waiting to see what happens after the election.
'What we've decided to do is try the parental contribution route. We do have parents that need the funding to be able to go out to work, including single parents. We've made it very clear that it is on a voluntary basis. I don't want to fall foul of the Code of Practice.'
She added, 'Every single parent is happy with the arrangement. It's the difference between paying £6 an hour if we pulled out of the scheme or £1.90 voluntary contribution.'