Kent pays nurseries 8.22 per two-and-a-half hour session of free nursery education. A nursery owner from Sevenoaks said that she would stop offering free places if 'price fixing' meant she had to reduce the quality of care.
Another nursery school owner told Nursery World that she is seeking legal advice.
She claims that private providers are being 'coerced' to opt out of providing free education sessions under the nursery education grant because they cannot afford to run at a loss.
The provider, who does not wish to be named, said that the terms of the DfES Code of Practice, effectively mean that the Government is expecting private providers to run as a charity and subsidise parents. She said, 'I can't cover my staffing costs on 8.22. It doesn't cover my salary or things like insurance.'
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