Linda Symons, who runs two Kidz Kabin nurseries in north London, said that offering the 30 hours free to all parents of three-and four-year-olds is unworkable because of the gap between the funding rates and the cost of providing the hours.
Ms Symons is urging nursery providers and sector organisations to sign the online petition, which is calling for the Government to revert to offering the universal offer of 15 hours to all three- and four-year-olds, but then offer the additional 15 hours on a subsidised basis, dependent on parental income.
This would mean that parents on low-incomes would receive the 30 hours of childcare free, while other families would pay for the extra 15 hours on a means-tested basis.
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