Nursery World - Private sector demands funds for more free hours

Private sector nurseries have warned that Government proposals to increase the hours of free nursery education for three-and four-year-olds will not be viable without increased and ring-fenced funding, following last week's launch of the consultation on the draft code of practice. The code comes into force in November in advance of plans to extend free nursery education for all three-and four-year-olds from 33 weeks a year to 38 weeks from April 2006.

The code comes into force in November in advance of plans to extend free nursery education for all three-and four-year-olds from 33 weeks a year to 38 weeks from April 2006.

From April 2007 the entitlement will start to increase from 12.5 to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks, and parents will be able to use the time flexibly over a minimum of three days. By 2010 this entitlement will cover all children, with plans to extend it to 20 hours.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, welcomed the extension, but said 'it must go hand in hand with a higher level of funding per place and ring fencing so the full amount reaches nursery education provision in all sectors. Day nurseries will be less viable if they are asked to deliver more "free sessions" that are inadequately funded.'

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