Call on Government for long-term funding for maintained nursery schools

Their joint submission sets out the need for long-term funding to ensure the 385 remaining maintained nursery schools in England, which care for 40,000 children, can remain sustainable. Four more nursery schools have been forced to close in the past 12 months due to insufficient funding.

The submission comes ahead of a planned march on Downing Street on 19 October, where school leaders, staff and parents will call on the Chancellor directly to address the issue of maintained nursery school funding as part of the upcoming spending review.

The letter to education secretary Nadhim Zahawi states, ‘Knowing that you are familiar with the challenges facing maintained nursery schools from your previous role as minister for children and families, we hope that we can rely on the support you articulated then for resolving their funding situation and that you will make the case strongly to the Treasury.

‘Our submission sets out why a solution is increasingly urgent for this outstanding part of the early years sector to play its part in post-pandemic recovery and the government’s levelling up agenda.’

The organisations highlight that the current funding for nursery schools was only intended to be ‘a temporary fix’ and that ministers promised maintained nursery schools a long-term funding solution more than four years ago.

The submission outlines six steps the Government should take as part of a long-term funding solution for maintained nursery schools:

• at least reverse the 12 per cent real terms cut to supplementary funding over the past five years
• put in place a viable hourly funding rate reflecting the cost of teaching children on all government-funded entitlements
• provide an annual lump sum payment and increase the level of Early Years Pupil Premium in line with primary school funding
• provide for central reimbursement of business rates for all MNS as for other schools
• fund MNS based on a nationally consistent basis, addressing the inequities of the current historically-based allocations. 
• provide transitionary support as needed

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said, ‘Quite frankly, this situation has gone on for far too long. It is simply not acceptable for maintained nursery schools to go from one term to the next not knowing what their funding situation will be.

‘The current funding arrangements were only ever designed to be a sticking plaster, whilst a long-term solution was found. We cannot wait any longer for that solution to be provided. ‘We urge Government to use this autumn’s comprehensive spending review as an opportunity to provide this crucial part of the Early Years sector with the sufficient and sustainable funding it so desperately needs.’

Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of Early Education, said, ‘Maintained nursery schools have a vital role to play in supporting post-pandemic recovery, but they can only do this if they have financial security going forward. They play a vital role in supporting 40,000 children in some of the most deprived areas of the country, and have an outstanding record in levelling up disadvantaged children’s outcomes to match those of their more advantaged peers.’

She added that nursery schools provide support for children with complex needs who would otherwise struggle to find appropriate early education places. 

‘This is a sector which time and again goes the extra mile to deliver key government policies for young children. Is it too much to ask that they should have the same financial security as other schools to enable to them to continue their vital work?’

Unison assistant general secretary Jon Richards said, ‘It’s more than four years since ministers promised a long-term funding solution for maintained nursery schools, and they’re still to deliver. With that uncertainty, nursery schools cannot even budget properly. The Government must stick to its pledge without delay. This vital service for young children and their communities needs the security of a sustainable settlement.’

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary, National Education Union, said, ‘It is deeply damaging to these schools that year after year they have to live hand to mouth uncertain of their financial future. 

‘Supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools was a stop-gap measure. It is completely unacceptable for the Government to take over five years to provide a long-term funding solution. The risk to further closures is too great and these schools need action now.’