Opinion: Editor's view

On 1 April, the new duties for local authorities under the Childcare Act became statutory. Councils are now required to improve outcomes for children, reduce inequalities and assess the local childcare market to ensure it meets the needs of families.

An important part of this is the duty to secure a free minimum amount of early learning and care for all three- and four-year-olds whose parents want it. This provision is under increasing pressure, however, as the protest about the level of nursery education funding to the private and voluntary sector continues and intensifies (see News, page 4).

Everything points to PVI providers finding it even harder to meet the terms and conditions of the nursery education code of practice as the free entitlement rises to 15 hours a week, the Early Years Foundation Stage arrives in September, and the requirement for graduate leadership comes in.

Nursery owners are coping with rising costs in many areas too, and this combination is proving a real threat to sustainability. One effect will be that nursery fees for paid hours are likely to rise, making childcare even less affordable for parents.

The other worrying prospect is that nurseries will decide not to take the Nursery Education Grant. Some will not see this as an option if they have large numbers of funded children, but others may judge the knock-on loss of business as less damaging than bearing losses caused by the existing level of funding.

Two settings in Kent have already withdrawn - a small proportion of places, but perhaps a harbinger of bigger problems to come for local councils that are struggling to fulfil their duties.