provision for pre-school children - but they are struggling to provide
even enough statutory places.
School-led nurseries will be at the heart of the Government's plan for education, according to childcare minister Sam Gyimah. He called on schools to offer more nursery provision, particularly for disadvantaged two-year-olds, in a speech in October last year. He also asked schools and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings to work together to increase capacity. What he omitted from his address was that schools across England are already struggling to provide sufficient statutory places, let alone to accommodate children of pre-school age.
Mr Gyimah favours school-based provision because it allows schools to 'get to know children and their parents earlier on, offering them the tailored support they need, sooner'. He said it improves the transition to Reception year, helps schools strengthen links with communities, and makes it easier for parents with children already in a school to drop off younger siblings at the same location.
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