Debbie Palmer, owner of the Village Montessori in Theydon Bois, Essex, said that before the general election she had written to Maria Miller, then shadow families' minister, and received a reply confirming that Conservative policy was to suspend the Code of Practice.
The reply said, 'It remains party policy that we will suspend the Code of Practice and allow nurseries to charge supplementary fees as a temporary solution until funding formulas for the delivery of the free entitlement are sorted.'
Ms Palmer said, 'I feel very let down by the Government and only voted for the Conservatives based on this pledge. It is disgraceful that they have backed down. Now many small businesses like mine will suffer.
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