Today (Thursday 8thJuly 2021), parents, school
leaders, teachers and advocates for the early years sector will
come together in an online public rally calling for the
government to commit to investing in early years education and
maintained nursery schools.
Maintained nursery schools play a vitally important role in early
years and in our education system as a whole. They offer the
highest quality early education and care, and disproportionately
support children from deprived backgrounds and those with SEND.
They are also system leaders supporting teacher training and
helping neighbouring early years provision to improve.
In 2017 a new early years funding settlement left maintained
nursery schools under threat with their future funding uncertain.
Since then, the government has recognised their importance and
has repeatedly pledged to find a long-term funding solution,
while protecting their funding in the interim. But no long-term
solution has yet been announced, and this has left maintained
nursery schools in limbo, unable to plan, and uncertain for their
future.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT,
said: “Maintained nursery schools have been left in limbo for
four years, under threat of closure. As we head towards the
comprehensive spending review it is critical, now more than ever,
that the Chancellor delivers once and for all for the sector.”
Beatrice Merrick, Chief Executive of Early Education, said:
“Maintained nursery schools have seen their funding fall in real
terms since 2016-17. There has been no inflationary increase to
the supplementary funding, and uncertainty from year to year and
term to term as to what funding they may receive in future. Their
potential to support vulnerable children and families through the
post-pandemic recovery is being jeopardised by government failure
to put in place a viable funding system.”
UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said: “Maintained
nursery schools play a vital role in supporting young children
with complex and special educational needs. Nurseries need a
long-term funding settlement urgently to ensure they've enough
staff to meet children’s needs. No child should be left behind
because of budget cuts.”
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of NEU, said:
“Maintained nursery schools provide the highest quality education
and care to children in some of the most disadvantaged parts of
England. After four years of funding uncertainty and bearing the
brunt of additional COVID costs, many schools have been forced to
cut staff and some are on the brink of closure. The Chancellor
and the Treasury need to act now and ensure the long promised,
long-term funding settlement for MNS is included in the
Comprehensive Spending Review this autumn.”
