Nursery World - EYSFF delay 'threatens nurseries'

Private and voluntary sector nurseries are more vulnerable to closure in the current economic climate now that the Early Years Single Funding Formula has been delayed by a year, the National Day Nurseries Association has warned.

While many in the early years sector believe the delay is necessary toensure the way the funding is distributed does not threaten maintainednursery schools, the NDNA said that funding for the free entitlement inPVI settings was at crisis point.

The organisation said the Government must look at ring-fencing funds asa step towards resolving issues with the free entitlement funding.

Last week, children's minister Dawn Primarolo told MPs she had decidedto postpone bringing in the EYSFF until April 2011, after a DCSF surveylast month revealed that two-thirds of local authorities were not readyto implement it from next April.

Giving evidence to the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee,Ms Primarolo said, 'I am minded to postpone, under certaincircumstances, with certain conditions, the implementation of the singleformula.'

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