News

Sector survey finds settings fear two-year-old funding shortfall

The Pre-School Learning Alliance has launched an online survey of early years providers to canvass their views on the free entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds.

The Alliance wants feedback from nurseries and pre-schools about whether they intend to take part in the extension of the free entitlement.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, said that many providers in the sector have reservations about whether the level of funding for two-year-olds will cover the costs of offering the free places, given longstanding problems with under-funding for three-and four-year-old places.

It is understood that a shortage of 40,000 places for the initial rollout of the scheme from September 2013 has been predicted by DfE officials.

Twenty per cent of two-year-olds in England will be entitled to a free nursery place for 15 hours a week from 2013, increasing to 40 per cent from 2014-15.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Unlimited access to news and opinion

  • Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here



Nursery World Jobs

Nursery Practitioner

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Executive Director

Remote - will be required to attend Leicester HQ weekly

Level 3 Nursery Practitioner

Thames Ditton, Surrey