Keep up NNI funding, say researchers

Neighbourhood Nurseries supporting families in the most disadvantaged areas should have their funding extended to ensure their sustainability, a new report recommends.

Its publication coincides with the ending this month of the three-year Government subsidy for the scheme.

The National Evaluation of the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative: Integrated Report summarises the findings of a series of studies published last week. It says, 'It may be necessary to consider additional support for nurseries serving more disadvantaged neighbourhoods where parents may be at an earlier stage in their "employment trajectory" or where there is a less developed "employment culture", for example in Asian communities. In such areas nurseries may require a longer period of time before they can become self-sustainable. This suggests a good case for continuing a "supply side subsidy".'

A DfES spokesperson said, 'All Neighbourhood Nurseries were required to have business plans to enable them to reach sustainability over five years, so we have no plans to provide further funding.

'We do recognise some of the issues around take-up of childcare among disadvantaged families and consequent challenges to securing sustainability in the most disadvantaged areas.'

The Pre-School Learning Alliance backed the recommendation for longer public funding. Chief executive Steve Alexander said said, 'There exists an inequality of resourcing which in turn impacts on quality.'

The report is available at www.dfes.gov.uk/research.