The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) warned that some nurseries may cease to operate the scheme. It is calling for 'a realistic overhaul'
of the system and one stream of funding to cover 70 per cent of nursery fees.
NDNA chief executive Rosemary Murphy said that nurseries, including those in Kent, typically charge around 15 for a session and then reduce the charge by about half the amount provided by Government to local authorities for a free two-and-a-half-hour session.
But under Sure Start guidance issued in April for 2004-05, another version of which has been created by Kent County Council, nurseries are not allowed to charge parents any fee for their eligible child's free nursery education place.
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