Letters: 'Free nursery education'
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Regarding the matter of 'free' nursery education for three- and four-year-olds, in our area children aged three qualify for a 'free' place in an LEA nursery immediately after their third birthday. However, if the child is attending a private day nursery they do not receive the entitlement until the term following the third birthday.
I have raised this issue with our authority and the National Day Nurseries Association because the situation possibly exists in other authorities and it does not provide equality of opportunity and parental choice.
Parents who choose to keep their child in a nursery, which they may have attended for almost three years, are now asking my staff why they should be victims of discrimination. In the most recent complaint, a mother said her neighbour's twins took up LEA places the week after their birthday, while she had to wait a full term before her child received his free entitlement at our nursery. The child will receive his nursery education with other three- and four-year-olds, but we can't subsidise the cost, so, unfortunately, normal fees continue to apply.
In order to take up an LEA place the parent would have to find someone to take the child for a 2.5-hour session, pick him up and provide care for the rest of her working hours or pay additional pre- and post-nursery session hours plus transport fees to and from the nursery unit! Does anyone involved in the decision-making process really consider the needs of the child and the so-called parental choice?
- Pat Cutmore, nursery director.
