John Woodward, head of Busy Bees, voiced concerns about the practical implications for private nurseries in working with local authorities to develop children's centres at the Daycare Trust's children's centres conference in London last week.
David Miliband, minister for communities and local government, spoke of 'double devolution', with central Government handing responsibility to both local authorities and communities themselves. He said, 'Individuals are the ones in the best position to know what their communities want and need.'
But Mr Miliband stressed that partnership was key to success.
During a question and answer session Mr Miliband said that the Government would help the development of children's centres by not giving local authorities too many targets to chase.
Speaking after the conference, Mr Woodward told Nursery World, 'The biggest problem is that it just takes so much time. With local authorities, there are lots of meetings and you just lose that money somewhere. I do think it's the best way to do it though, because we need these partnerships.'
Mr Woodward said he would advise nurseries thinking of becoming involved in children's centres, 'Put down what you want to do on one piece of paper and if you can't, it's not simple enough. Spend time quickly seeing if it works and, if it doesn't, walk away.'
Fears were raised over the fate of small independent nurseries and those in rural areas, as one delegate described how her rural community had lost two pre-schools which were not financially viable. Mr Woodward said, 'The biggest danger is to individual nurseries. They are under the greatest threat, and that doesn't do the sector any good.'
but also maintained that the Government was going in the right direction! with its plans.
