Nursery World - Nursery Education Funding: PVI and state sector anomaly exposed

New evidence reveals the marked difference in funding that private and voluntary nurseries and maintained providers receive from local authorities for the free early years entitlement.

A table on the DCSF website clearly shows anomalies in the split by local authorities between the maintained and PVI sectors.

The National Day Nurseries Association said the evidence shows for the first time the true extent of funding discrepancies throughout England, and highlights why reform is vital.

The NDNA is urging local authorities and Schools Forums to find ways to increase funding levels for providers in light of the recent cost analysis process.

NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said, 'These figures show clear differences in how much nursery education funding is allocated across the PVI and maintained sectors. In many cases, maintained settings are receiving a significantly higher level of funding per pupil than private and voluntary nurseries, which many providers who are struggling with current funding levels will find unfair.

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