Nursery owner feels let down by Tories on Code pledge

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.

'The Tories say they support small businesses, but I feel there is no support at all. I have written to them again since the election and I have had no response.'

She added, 'I have to set my fees for September before the end of term on 30 July and we still don't know what the Government intends to do about the Code. Parents have told me they are prepared to pay the difference between what the grant covers and the real cost.'

She is disappointed that Essex County Council is not increasing the rate for pre-schools - currently £3.71 an hour - when the extension to the 15 hours entitlement goes ahead in September and said she will charge for yoga and language classes as 'extras' to meet her costs.

'There are lots of grey areas in the Code about what you are able to charge for, but I have been told by the council I can charge for these as long as it is clear and transparent for parents. Essex council is being supportive and flexible. But where do you draw the line between offering the EYFS in basic terms and showing that your setting is above that level, ie a high-quality session, as there is no clear definition? If you offer more/better resources, for instance, should you be charging parents for these, or at least including them in the fees? No-one seems able to provide a clear answer. I will give priority to parents who want the full quality session, which in my nursery includes yoga and languages.'

She said she will also have to charge parents for meals. However, she has been told by the council that she must give parents the option to send children to nursery with a packed lunch instead.

Last month, nursery owner Patricia Banks of Farnham, Surrey, revealed a letter she had received from David Cameron's office before the election signalling support for top-up fees and suspending the Code of Practice.