Milton Keynes Council says that rapid growth in childcare provision byother providers means that there more than enough local childcareplaces.
The council has put forward five options. They are: maintain currentservice but reduce costs; offer the service to be run by anotherprovider; introduce different management arrangements for groups ofnurseries, for example through children's centres or school companies;develop a co-operative consortium to manage current provision; or closethe nurseries.
Parents are being asked to contribute their views by 30 November.
A survey of parents using the nurseries in September found that many didnot want a change of provider. One parent said, 'I have tried theprivate sector and they are too interested in making money! Not thechildren's welfare.'
When asked whether they would continue to use a nursery if it wasmanaged by a different provider and current standards, quality andstaffing were kept up, only 17 per cent of parents said they would keeptheir children at the nursery.