The organisers of the Save Our Nurseries campaign fear that many private and voluntary providers are unaware of the impact the revised DfES Code of Practice for the NEG will have on the sustainability of their business, the quality of care they offer and parental choice.
Campaigners have formed the Association of Private, Voluntary and Independent Providers (Kent) and hope that nurseries in other areas will start their own branches.
Association secretary Darrell King, owner of the Old School House nursery in East Sutton, said, 'Many nursery owners feel disenfranchised, and it's easier to ignore a solitary voice. We're pressing ahead to expand this group and bring in more providers.'
Under the new terms of the Code, nurseries will no longer be able to charge parents a 'top-up' to cover the actual cost of the nursery education place.
Last month, Kent County Council (KCC) suspended the new conditions for the NEG in the wake of protests from local nurseries.
The situation remains unresolved, with Kent nursery owners yet to receive a response from the DfES or KCC.
Shadow education secretary Maria Miller is calling for a review of the nursery education grant funding to assess the impact on PVI providers in an Early Day Motion backed by more than 40 MPs.
Sarita Goacher, regional co-ordinator for Montessori Early Years Forum in Kent and Sussex, and a campaign organiser, said, 'Nurseries need to know about the impact the Code could have. We want to raise awareness with nurseries and parents so they can write to their MPs. It's a call to arms for nurseries to look at the impact on their business and give them the means to tell parents what will happen. Sitting back and waiting and seeing won't work.'
The website includes a parents' page with a questionnaire. Campaigners believe that many parents are unaware of the disparity between the NEG funding nurseries receive from local authorities and the actual cost to the nursery, and say parents do not realise that many nurseries are effectively subsidising free places.
Lynette Blunket-Evans, owner of the Papillon nursery in Tunbridge Wells, said, 'Unless they come up with a solution, we will have to pull out of the scheme. We can't do what we're doing for 8.22 a session.'
However, the Government remains committed to the free education entitlement. Children's minister Beverley Hughes told Nursery World last month, 'We will not entertain the idea of top-up payments for toddlers or allow the creation of a two-tier system between those who can afford to pay these additional fees and those who cannot'.
* Nursery World has learned that last week KCC erroneously paid some PVI providers for next term's NEG double the amount they should receive. One nursery owner said she had received 30,000, rather than Pounds 15,000.
A spokesperson for KCC said, 'There has been an administration error of which we are fully aware. Incorrect payments have been made and made early.
We have taken quick action to rectify the situation and apologise for any inconvenience caused to our nursery providers.'
The campaign website is at www.saveournurseries.org.
Timeline of NEG row
April 2006 The DfES publishes the revised Code of Practice
June and July KCC holds briefings with PVI nurseries and issues delegated conditions - its interpretation of the CoP - to be implemented from 1 September.
13 July KCC suspends the delegated conditions after protests from local nurseries.
17 July Shadow education secretary Maria Miller tables an Early Day Motion calling for a review of NEG funding.
19 July KCC officials meet with the DfES to raise their concerns.
14 August The Save our Nurseries website goes live.
Kent nurseries await an official response from KCC/ DfES.