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On-line
petition
Would you like to add your voice to ours? Click on the
link below and e-sign and complete the on-line petition
asking the Prime Minister to lift the restrictions which
will be placed on early years settings from September
2010 from charging top up fees to parents with children
from 3 years of age.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/saveournurseries/
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This campaign
was launched in 2006 in response to the Code of Practice
2004/2006 (CofP), on the Provision of the Free Nursery Education
places for 3 and 4 year olds, which underpins the delivery of
the free entitlement and supports the government pledge of 'a
choice for parents and the best start for children'.
The impact of the Department for Children, Schools and
Families (DCSF) Code of Practice is far reaching:
- By stipulating how privately
run businesses should operate.
- By affecting the long term
sustainability of Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI)
providers as well as Child minders.
- By forcing the PVI sector to
deliver the first 15 free hours of Nursery Care & Education
for less than the actual cost.
- Through the implementation
of the Early Years Single Funded Formula (EYSFF)
- With implications to the
Early Years Provision within the Maintained Sector through
reduction in funding when the EYSFF is implemented.
- This will affect quality and
parental choice.
All Nursery Education Providers
wholeheartedly support the Governments initiative to lift
children out of deprivation by providing high quality Early
Years Education for three and four year olds. Save Our Nurseries
values:
- Quality
We support the Government policy of ‘Quality Provision’ for
all children. We acknowledge and embrace that quality goes
beyond paper qualifications of staff, by recognising the
importance of experience, dedication and natural aptitude,
as well as all levels of continued professional development.
These attributes should work together with a carefully
prepared enabling environment to meet the needs of each
unique child.
- Flexibility
We support the Government vision of a best start for all
children and choice for parents through flexible quality
provision. By ensuring that the individuality, ethos and
vision of each provision are maintained, the choice for
parents in each community will remain varied and diverse. We
strive to meet the needs of parents and children whilst
ensuring that provisions remain independent and sustainable.
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Reducing
Deprivation
We are committed to supporting the Government vision in
lifting all children out of deprivation, through sustainable
high quality care and education. In addition, each provider
will continue identifying and supporting those children and
families in our own communities. Our support at times, goes
beyond financial consideration, whilst always keeping the
child at the heart of our objectives.
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Our goal is to ensure that the
implementation of the DCSF Code of Practice is suspended until a
full and independent assessment can be made into the impact on
sustainability of every setting. This will be the only way to
develop a sustainable and fair system of Early Education
Funding.
We call on early education providers, parents, MPs, MEPs,
Councillors and anyone seeking the best for children, to Support
Our Cause.WE BELIEVE IN A SURE
START FOR CHILDREN, NOT A SURE END FOR NURSERY PROVIDERS.
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The DCSF Code of Practice
17 March 2010.
The new Code of Practice was released yesterday. The timing
surprised many of us, given the proximity of the general election.
Here is the link:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/resources-and-practice/IG00689/
Support the Campaign
Providers, you can...
1.
Write to your MP, MEP
2.
Speak to your Parents; Get their Views; Are you meeting their needs?; Click
here to see our sample parent questionnaire.
3.
Notify your local press
4.
Keep us informed of News in your region:
Email us
Parents,
you can:
1.
Write to your MP, MEP
2.
Write to Local Authority
3.
Support your Early Years provider
Click here for
a website that can identify your local MP and local councillors in
charge of education.
MPs responsible for Education and Early Years:
Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA |
Maria Miller MP
Shadow Minister for Children, Schools and Families
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
millerm@parliament.uk
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Rt. Hon Dawn Primarolo MP
Minister for Children Schools and Families
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
primarolod@parliament.uk
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Baroness Verma
Shadow Minister for Education in the Lords
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0AA
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Local Campaign News
Hampshire
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We have been very active in
Hampshire by:
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Representing the PVIs with two
representatives on the Partnership Advisory Group, working
on the Early Years Single Funding Formula
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Continuing to highlight the
issues and concerns with Hampshire Local Authority
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Continuing to represent all PVI
settings to MPs
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Supporting Hampshire providers
with their queries and concerns
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Replying with our concerns to
local and national consultations on the Code of Practice and
the Early Years Single Funding Formula
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Working closely with the
national campaign and attending their regular meetings in
London and other parts of the country
For further information please
email:
hantspviproviders@hotmail.co.uk
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Lewisham
3 & 4 year old free entitlement
consultation meeting
On 9th December 2009 the London Borough of Lewisham had invited to a
consultation meeting about the 3 & 4 year old free entitlement.
Lewisham’s proposal includes the introduction of factors such as quality
and deprivation to its formula in order to evaluate the actual amount of
funding a setting receives. A good or outstanding Ofsted report for
example would lead to a higher hourly rate just as the number of
children attending the setting from a very deprived postcode area. Yet,
so it became clear, this rate will still only be marginally higher than
the current rate. After the presentation we had the opportunity to join
small group discussions with representatives of Lewisham council.
All PVI providers at the meeting explained their individual problems
with the formula, ranging from
• Being unable to offer 15 hours per week free at the point of delivery
• Being unable to open the minimum 38 weeks
• The hourly rate not covering the actual hourly costs of the setting
Lewisham has invited all settings to
continue being involved in further consultations.
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Richmond
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Richmond consists of 75% PVIs
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Representing the PVIs on the Early Years
Single Funding Formula sub-committee and on the Schools Forum
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Ongoing and continuing dialogue with
Richmond Local Authority highlighting concerns and issues
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Early Years Team have been very helpful
where possible and do listen
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Richmond are very aware and are
concerned of the sustainability issues and the implications of the
15 hour enforcement
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Working tirelessly on the national
campaign and attending regular meetings
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Have attended and spoken at meetings in
other parts of the country
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Have kept informed on current
information
West
Berkshire
(Updated 16 March 2010)
Steering Group working for over a year trying to establish a workable
formula.
Formula accepted by the Heads Group.
SFF delayed for a year by Dawn Primarolo
Offers for Pathfinder Authorities requested by Government
SFF Steering Group, after much debate, decided to apply to Heads Group
to be a Pathfinder.
Request turned down by Heads Group. Reasons given: uncertain political
climate which may overturn any decisions taken and implemented by W.
Berks., and concern about additional level of funding needed to run the
preferred formula.
A letter from Head of Education Service in West Berks was circulated
stating that
the request was turned down because the higher level of funding
requested would mean that “the maintained sector would lose out
significantly as a consequence of the formula delivering higher levels
of funding into the PVI sector”. Also the rate of return for PVIs
(although included in the Government’s guidance) was a very contentious
issue that was “not supported by maintained school heads who want to see
all the funding go into provision”.
The Steering Group met on 2nd March when the WBC Schools Finance Manager
presented a new set of figures for presentation to the Schools Forum on
8th March. This new proposal dramatically reduces the contribution to
the PVI sector from the original proposal. Strong arguments from two of
the PVI reps were ignored as the Finance Manager had already made the
decision.
PVIs have an increase of 9% over last year and the Maintained sector
17%.
A level playing field?
Agreement contracts for funding until 31st August, 2010 have been sent
out for signing by providers.
Providers have to sign that ‘We agree to the conditions set out in the
documents’.
The documents being: Code of Practice 2006-07 and West Berks Guidance
(2010).
Some providers are unhappy about signing a potentially fraudulent
statement.
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Wiltshire
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The majority of
preschools in Wiltshire are Private.
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There are 6 Private
providers on the Early Years Reference Group.
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We have made our
concerns known to the Local Authority regarding the Early Years
Single Funding Formula which will not cover our costs relating to
the 15 hours ‘free’ entitlement.
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We have brought our
concerns to the attention of our MPs.
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We have a member on
the committee of the Save Our Nurseries Campaign and attend London
meetings regularly.
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Please contact your
MPs and the Local Authority with your concerns.
If you have any queries
or need support please Email:
saveournurseries@yahoo.co.uk
Case
Studies
Richmond case study
As the date for the
enforcement of 15 hours draws closer I have had to take the decision of
either closing down or pulling out of the Nursery Education Funding
Scheme.
From September 2010
hours notionally covered by the “free entitlement” will be extended to
15 hours – and, ultimately, to 20 hours. Private providers will, if any
parent receives the NEG, be barred by law from charging, in relation to
the statutory 15 hours, for the very considerable shortfall between what
the Government states that schools should be allowed to receive for this
teaching and running a business and the actual real cost of providing
quality provision for the children in our care. We cannot submit to such
price controls. We simply could not offer the facilities we do for the
price Ministers are proposing to fix. We have to be able to charge above
the Government’s price level, if we are to remain as a viable settings.
I have had my nursery
school for nearly 25 years. I am not prepared to compromise high
standards and quality for the children in our care.
As I believe in being
totally transparent in all my dealings with parents I have informed
current parents, parents who have been offered places for September 2010
and any parent who now registers. I have had overwhelming support. The
Local Authority has also been informed.
I have been fighting
the Save Our Nurseries Campaign since 2006. This is not the decision I
had wanted to make but Government policy has pushed me into it.
Everybody is a loser – Nurseries will close down or “go under” as they
will ultimately not be sustainable; standards will inevitably drop at
the detriment of the child; parents will also lose out; the very
workforce whom the Government want to get back to work will also be
affected and lose their jobs; Local Authorities will be unable to meet
their targets as there will be fewer places and the Nursery Sector will
be further eroded.
Anne-Marie True
Chair, Save Our Nurseries
Richmond Provider
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South Bucks case study
In late January 2010 a
small group of pre-school settings based in and around the Chilterns in
South Buckinghamshire began to contact each other to discuss their
concerns over the imminent extension to the free nursery entitlement and
the new code of practice that governs it. It very quickly transpired
that each nursery was extremely worried about the financial impact the
proposed code and funding rates would have on them, and all agreed that
the proposed rate of funding for Buckinghamshire (£3.75 per hour) was
much less than the true cost of providing the place. Everyone agreed
that this shortfall was so significant that it would force them to
either close down or withdraw from funding altogether.
It was recognised that a unified approach was required and the South
Bucks Nursery Forum (SBNF) was formed. Membership of the forum rapidly
grew to over 12 nurseries within a 10 mile radius of each other,
representing over 90% of early years sessional provision in their area.
The group meets regularly and its membership continues to grow.
In the first two meetings the group decided that they were committed to
withdraw from funding ‘en masse’ unless the code of practice was revised
to allow them to recover the true cost of providing the service by
charging parents the shortfall between the funding and their operating
costs. It was then agreed that a letter would be sent to Buckinghamshire
County Council (BCC) informing them of this intention. Although this
would mean a potential reduction in each nursery’s income due to the
fact that some parents would inevitably be unable to afford the
increased fees, members agreed that it was their only chance of
survival. It was also decided that parents needed to be consulted on the
impending changes from September and how they were likely to force the
majority of local nurseries to withdraw from funding.
An online petition to Number 10 Downing St was set up asking the
Government to reconsider: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/saveournurseries.
Nurseries circulated this address to parents and other nurseries with a
request that they also forward it on to any interested bodies in order
to gain the maximum number of signatories.
Since then, the following developments have occurred:
• February - Parents consultation documents were distributed amongst all
nurseries in the group, with a request for them to sign a supporting
document which would be delivered to the local authority.
• February 9th - a letter was sent from the SBNF to BCC announcing the
group’s intention to withdraw from September 2010 if current proposals
remained unchanged. This also asked how the council would fulfil their
charge of ensuring sufficient, affordable, high quality early years
education with the loss of so many funded places. The letter was copied
to Nursery World, national media, and children’s ministers.
• February 11th edition of Nursery World included a full page article on
the group’s actions. This also formed the focus of the Editor’s View
with such comments as ‘Anecdotally there are nursery owners across the
country considering opting out of the free entitlement. The floodgates
could be about to open.’
• February 21st - The SBNF received a response from Buckinghamshire
County Council. Although it emphasised that the 15 hours free
entitlement to parents must be free at the point of delivery, and that
nurseries cannot charge ‘top up’ fees, it also alluded to nurseries
being able to charge for ‘additional services’ but does not qualify
exactly what these would constitute. The letter also indicated the
procedure of withdrawing from funding. The group noted that a term’s
notice is required, which would force them to make their decisions about
withdrawing in September well before the final code of practice has been
issued.
• February 22nd - The SBNF requested a meeting BCC in order to clarify
exactly what they may, or may not, charge for under the new code of
practice. They received a response agreeing to a meeting on March 11th.
• February 22nd - The Telegraph Online responded to the group’s letters
and published an article about the SBNF with the headline: “Parents face
childcare price hike as nurseries threaten to leave free places scheme”
• March 2nd - The SBNF met and collated the signed parents consultation
documents. These amounted to over 90% of the total number of parents at
their nurseries, demonstrating overwhelming parental support in the
group’s actions. These documents are then delivered to senior management
at BCC in advance of the meeting scheduled for March 11th.
• March 4th edition of Nursery World follows up on the vagueness in the
response from BCC and the difficulty providers face in making their
decisions for September without a final code of practice in place.
The South Bucks Nursery Forum is resolved in its commitment to ensure
parents understand the negative impacts of the changes to the code of
practice, and to continue to show its unity in fighting these changes.
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Early
Years Single Funding Formula Oral Evidence Session
The Children, Schools and Families Committee
Wednesday 9 December 2009 at 9.30am Wilson Room, Portcullis House
The opinion was broadly
expressed that the principles driving the EYSFF are well founded in that
the goal is to provide a free entitlement to high quality learning in
the early years sector that can be implemented via a system that is
based on simplicity, flexibility and transparency.
The witnesses were from
LAs in Sheffield, Birmingham and Hertfordshire who answered questions on
their boroughs. All had different situations but broadly expressed
concerns that their nursery schools would have to be taking funding from
other areas of their education funds to manage when the funding is
dependent on attendance rather than capacity. They all said that they
would manage and recognized that it would be more difficult for PVIs.
The Chairman expressed
concern about any unintended consequences of the policy mentioning that
flexibility in provision could have a detrimental effect on the children
– the very focus of the system.
Dawn Primarola MP
(Minister of State for Children, Young People & Families)
stated the purpose was
to bring transparency and accountability and to target deprivation and
quality. She has decided to delay to April 2011. There had not been
enough data coming back from LAs for a conclusion to be reached. She
believes the principles are good but wants to be confident that they
have the system “right” before it is rolled out in April 2011. Those
LAs who are ready to go in April 2010 can apply to be pathfinders and
they will be used to evaluate “good practice” and “how to do” before
April 2011.
It was acknowledged
that further work was needed and that any unintended consequences should
be examined in depth.
Cathryn Hudson
14th December 2009
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Published by the
Save Our Nurseries campaign
Anne-Marie True - Chair (Richmond)
Susan Hartley-Raven - Vice Chair (Hampshire)
Dawn Nasser - Secretary (Lewisham)
Shaunagh de Boinville - Treasurer (Hampshire)
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