Councils raise issues of EYSFF readiness
The extent to which different areas are ready to implement the EYSFF was evident from local authorities who told MPs about its impact.
Particular issues were raised about funding based on participation rather than places.
All of the local authorities present said they would not be able to preserve their maintained nursery schools without taking funding from the schools budget.
In Birmingham they had earmarked 'a safety net' fund for two years to protect 25 nursery schools, which would suffer with cuts to their hours from full-time to part-time based on funding through take-up rather than places.
Lesley Adams, head of integrated services for children and families, told the committee that because funding was also based on deprivation factors, some nursery schools which are not in deprived areas would lose out because some of the funding will go to PVI nurseries.
Asked whether the council would need to reallocate funding from the Dedicated Schools Grant, Ms Adams said, 'I believe so. We have already been to the Schools Forum to say that is our belief, so it is aware of the pressures that are on us. There will need to be more in order to do everything we are being asked to do and keep nursery schools open.'
Local councils also revealed flaws in the cost analysis process, with low return rates and incomplete forms from some PVI providers.
Jamie Lang, finance manager at Sheffield council, reported that after carrying out the process twice, only 31 per cent of providers responded, with no returns from childminders or independent schools with nurseries.
Questioned by MPs later in the session, after announcing she had decided to delay the implementation of the formula, Dawn Primarolo also hinted there might be flexibility in the way the formula is applied regarding funding by participation rather than places.
