The petition has been signed by 2,000 school leaders, staff and educators from almost every maintained nursery school (MNS) in the country.
The march was organised by school leaders’ union the National Association of Head Teachers, with the National Education Union, Early Education and Unison.
Nursery schools say they have been waiting for a long-term funding solution since 2017, when the new early years funding formula left them under threat of closure.
While the Government has said it recognises their value, and has stepped in with extra interim funding, campaigners say that without a long term funding, nursery school have been left ‘in limbo’, unable to plan, and with their future uncertain.
Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of Early Education, said, ‘Maintained nursery schools have seen their funding fall in real terms since 2016-17.
'There has been no inflationary increase to the supplementary funding, and uncertainty from year to year and term to term as to what funding they may receive in future. Their potential to support vulnerable children and families through the post-pandemic recovery is being jeopardised by Government failure to put in place a viable funding system.’
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said, ‘Maintained nursery schools have been left in limbo for four years, under threat of closure. As we head towards the comprehensive spending review it is critical, now more than ever, that the Chancellor delivers once and for all for the sector.’
The petition, which was handed into 11 Downing Street, states, ‘Maintained nursery schools provide the highest quality education and care to children in some of the most disadvantaged parts of England. They support a high proportion of children with special educational needs, who would otherwise have nowhere to go, and children on the early years pupil premium. They have a vital role to play supporting educational recovery and the levelling up agenda.
‘We therefore call on you to take urgent action to provide adequate funding for maintained nursery schools and support to address the impact of the pandemic.’
A survey carried out by the organisations earlier this year, and published in May, revealed that more than a third (34 per cent) of maintained nursery schools are cutting staffing and services to balance their books because of lost income and additional Covid costs, coupled with a lack of certainty over the funding they will receive from spring 2022.
Campaigners with nursery school heads, teachers and MPs gather in Parliament Square before delivering the petition to 11 Downing Street
Nursery school leaders reported losing an average of over £70,000 of income, as well as having to spend an extra £8,000 for extra Covid-related costs. Unlike some other schools, MNS were not eligible for exceptional cost funding for Covid from the Government and had to bear the brunt of these costs themselves.
Almost half (46 per cent) of respondents said that by the end of March 2021, they were already in deficit for the year. The average deficit reported was £76,000, with just 23 per cent of them confirming that they could continue to operate within their current funding levels.
Unison assistant general secretary Jon Richards said, ‘These schools play a vital role in supporting young children with complex and special educational needs. Nurseries need a long-term funding settlement urgently to ensure they've enough staff. No child should be left behind because of budget cuts.’
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of NEU, said, ‘After four years of funding uncertainty and bearing the brunt of additional Covid costs, many schools have been forced to cut staff and some are on the brink of closure. The Chancellor and the Treasury need to act now and ensure the long-promised, long-term funding settlement for MNS is included in the spending review this autumn.’
Photos: NAHT