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.
Following the closure proposal, public consultations were arranged for parents, and council representatives visited school staff. I was told that, because I'm a private provider, they didn't have to offer anything to me or my staff who would lose their jobs.
Within a month of the announcement five children left my setting. The pre-school was no longer viable and I closed at half- term. I have lost around 50,000, with no accountability from the council. If the school had kept me informed, I could have avoided some of this financial loss.
I urge private providers to have full legal documentation in place, as all parts of the country are to suffer reorganisation under the TLC programme.
The next problem we are expected to absorb is the setting up of children's centres. Councils say they will not affect our businesses. In reality, I believe, they will be set up in primary schools wherever possible and local private provision will suffer.
