Nursery owners are concerned about how the extension of the free early years entitlement will affect their business, according to a survey by the National Day Nurseries Association.
The NDNA has written to children's minister Beverley Hughes to sharemore than 300 members' views on the Government's plans for childcare inthe Next Steps document (News, 28 January).
Chief executive Purnima Tanuku said, 'We believe it is vital to explorehow current issues with the free entitlement can be addressed faster, asmany nurseries are facing increased sustainability issues during thecurrent economic climate.'
Extending the entitlement to two-year-olds and making it more flexiblewere key issues for PVI nurseries. Others included how the Government'splan to let parents 'bank' hours to use childcare when they want wouldwork, and how nurseries could pay salaries for graduates withoutincreasing fees.