When the London borough of Newham first started looking into the delivery of 30 funded hours, it was obvious that the council faced a significant challenge. In Newham, the majority of three- and four-year-olds – 75 per cent, according to early years strategic lead Nicola Blatchly-Lewis – take up their free entitlement in school nursery classes or one of the borough’s seven maintained nursery schools. But the school nurseries are already almost full to capacity.
According to Government figures, every three- and four-year-old in Newham currently takes up their 15 hours’ entitlement, although Ms Blatchly-Lewis says a few still turn up to Reception having not attended any setting previously. Those who are entitled to the 30 hours are effectively taking up two nursery places, a potential problem in an over-subscribed sector.
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