The survey, published this week, revealed that an 'alarming' 50 per cent of private, voluntary and independent providers had reported that their local authority was setting up a children's centre close to their own setting.
NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said a national commissioning framework should be included in the Childcare Bill 'that gives local authorities options for creating children's centres in partnership with existing private and voluntary nurseries'. Having 'a formal appeal procedure for nurseries where a local authority hasn't involved a willing nursery' would help to keep existing nurseries sustainable, she said.
The report, Why Duplicate? - A mixed economy and partnership working to deliver quality childcare for all, said that while the Government preached partnership, this was not the experience of many nurseries.
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