This consultation and the new guidance that will be shaped by it are of vital importance to the early years sector. In the current economic conditions, sustainability is the prime concern for providers - just see our report on the Pre-School Learning Alliance's annual survey results on page 5. And the below-cost rates that many nurseries feel they receive from local authorities for providing the free entitlement have put pressure on sustainability.
This is likely to intensify as the number of hours on offer rises to 15 and has to be delivered more flexibly.
Last week, I chaired a day nursery policy group organised by security solutions company Honeycomb, supported by Barclays Commercial, which debated concerns about sustainability with the DCSF's Graham Archer. Many agreed that if the code of practice on the free entitlement left no 'wriggle room' or chance to charge some kind of top-up fee, providers would be hit extremely hard unless they received a greater sum of money.
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