Members of the 200,000-strong organisation's national council voted unanimously in support of a motion instructing the FSB's policy group 'to assist pre-school providers in calling a halt to the Government implementation of the code of practice'. The motion by the FSB's Kent representative, Vic Peake, also urged the Government 'to undertake an urgent assessment of its impact'.
A delegation of nursery owners met children's minister Beverley Hughes on 26 October to voice their concern that the code's ban on charging top-up fees to meet the real costs of providing free nursery places for three- and four-year-olds threatens their livelihoods. So far, the minister has rejected calls for the ban on top-up fees to be lifted.
Darrell King, secretary of the Association of PVI Providers in Kent, which has spearheaded the campaign, said the FSB's backing was a major boost to the fight to scrap the code.
She said, 'The FSB has 33 regions and many of their representatives have been lobbied about this. It's great that their policy group will be actively supporting us.'
An FSB spokesman said, 'It appears that the practical impact of these changes to the code of practice is very severe and is affecting many of our members around the country who run nurseries. We hope some solution can be found.'
As a representative of her association, Ms King has been invited by Kent County Council to attend a meeting due to be held today (9 November) to discuss the new terms and conditions it is drawing up. The council was forced to withdraw its original proposals after an outcry from nursery owners.
Ms King said the invitation from the council represented a significant U-turn, as it had refused to recognise or negotiate with the association in July.
