Nursery school funding solution must come now if more closures are to be avoided, government warned

Organisations representing Maintained Nursery Schools have joined together to warn the government that it must provide a long-term funding solution for Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) as part of this autumn’s spending review if further closures and cuts to staffing and services are to be avoided.

Early Education, NAHT NEU and Unison have written to both the Chancellor and the new Secretary of State for Education outlining the perilous position Maintained Nursery Schools now find themselves in as a result of ongoing funding uncertainty. Their joint submission for this autumn’s Comprehensive Spending Review details the level of investment required from government to put this crucial part of the sector back on a stable and sustainable financial footing.

The submission highlights how current funding arrangements were only ever meant to be a ‘temporary fix’ and are subject to wide variability across the country. This approach has led to further nursery school closures in recent years, with only 385 now left across the whole of England.

In a letter to the new Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, the organisations call for a sufficient, predictable and long-term settlement in order to allow MNS to continue their work in delivering better outcomes for disadvantaged children, support for children with SEND and system leadership for the early years.

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% 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

This 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.

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. They also 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: “Maintained nursery schools have proven time and time again that they are centres of excellence, as all are graded as outstanding or good by Ofsted. They are often located in the most deprived areas of the country and provide skills and resources which support children with SEND. It is deeply damaging to these schools that year after year they have to live hand to mouth uncertain of their financial future. In the last 12 months, four more maintained nursery schools have been forced to close due to insufficient funding. Only 385 maintained nursery schools remain. 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. The NEU is calling on the government to use this autumn’s comprehensive spending review to provide a viable long-term funding solution for maintained nursery schools from September 2022.”

Ends

The 385 maintained nursery schools (MNS) in England are local authority-run schools for two, three and four-year-olds. They are a unique resource, offering outstanding education and care to 40,000 children, including some of the country’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.