The Government's proposals to restructure the childcare sector sounds fine, taken at face value. But the reality has far-reaching effects on all providers, especially the private and voluntary sector.
In Cheshire, the first of the proposals under the Transforming Learning Communities (TLC) programme hit me hard. Cheshire County Council started discussing school closures with head teachers last spring. I understand heads were asked to keep providers informed. My pre-school was sited at a school but the first I heard of the plans was at the end of September.
Despite having been at the school for 18 months, the council's legal department had not produced the lease for signature, even though I had repeatedly chased it and reviewed the draft. With hindsight I believe they were advised not to forward the lease because it would bind them into retaining the pre-school.
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