Speaking on behalf of the Steering Group for the Forum for Maintained Nursery Schools and Children's Centres, Julian Grenier, head of Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre in London, said that while this is a time of opportunity and expansion, there are 'real dangers ahead'.
He said, 'Many nursery schools and children's centres are not properly understood by local authorities, and heads and senior staff are under a great deal of pressure to expand and deliver new services with insufficient funding and little help. Many new centres lack the funding to employ highly-qualified staff, and they will not have anything like the funding for family support and outreach programmes that Sure Start programmes currently have.'
To attend the forum's next national meeting in February, call 020 75395400 or e-mail office@early-education.org.uk.
To attend a London-specific meeting on 13 October 2006, email julian.grenier@gmail.com.