Nursery World - Funding fails free places

Edinburgh Council will fail to meet a 2010 target to increase free nursery provision to 570 hours a year without more funding from the Scottish Government.

The targets are for all three- and four-year-olds to receive 15 hours offree education for 38 weeks per year by autumn 2010.

Speaking at a committee meeting, Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, convenerof education, children and families, said the target would cost 800,000. She confirmed the council could not afford this.

Ms MacLaren said, 'At the moment the majority of nursery age childrenreceive 475 hours per year (12.5 hours a week), which is the currentmaximum. It has been estimated that we would require an additional800,000 per year to increase the provision to 570 hours per year.Until we can secure this additional funding we will be unable to reachthe target.'

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