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Teachers demand action to save nursery schools from cuts

More than 28,000 people have signed a petition to be handed in at 10 Downing Street

Nursery school teachers are getting ready to hand in a petition at 10 Downing Street urging the Prime Minister to secure long term funding for state nursery schools which they say are “under threat” of closures after years of “insufficient” funding.

The “Save nursery schools now” petition, which has been signed by more than 28,000 people, warns that more nursery schools may be forced to close unless proper funding is provided, hitting some of the most disadvantaged children.

“Nursery schools give around 40,000 children the best start to school,” the petition, backed by the National Education Union, says. “The majority of these schools are located in some of the poorest parts of the country and for many children this is their only opportunity for early education.

“Unless the government changes course and guarantees long-term funding for nursery schools, many will face closure and all will suffer damaging cuts to the quality of education and services they provide.”

‘Chronic under funding’

The petition calls on Boris Johnson to make a funding commitment in the Spring Budget to ensure the survival of Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS). There are currently 389 such nurseries in England but according to a report by the Department for Education, there were as many as 600 back in 1988.

But the creators of the petition, which has been launched on the Action Network online platform, explain that nurseries have suffered from “years of chronic underfunding”. The government allocated stopgap funding last year as a temporary solution to keep MNS going, but petitioners said nurseries have received “no guarantee for their future beyond this  period.”

Campaigners want a permanent funding solution for maintained nursery schools (Photo: Annca/Pixabay)
Campaigners want a permanent funding solution for maintained nursery schools (Photo: Annca/Pixabay)

The petition demands the government to ensure the survival of nurseries to the end of the current parliament and to work with other stakeholders, including those working in the sector and local authorities, to develop a sustainable long-term solution beyond this time.

It says that the closure of MNS is a “huge loss” for communities.

“The education they provide helps close the achievement gap between the most disadvantaged children and their peers,” the petition added.

“If nursery schools are forced to close, tens of thousands of children could lose their place in early education. Children from working families will be left with nowhere to turn.”

‘A matter of urgency’

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said in statement: “The Government’s attitude to nursery schools, characterised by indifference and piecemeal measures, is having a detrimental effect on children at a critical stage in their development. We cannot afford for this to continue.

“Maintained nursery schools not only educate our youngest children but also provide the kind of support for parents and carers which is no longer available from local authorities. It is vital [the] government listens as a matter of urgency to the thousands of people who have signed our petition for additional funding.”

Aside from many teachers and parents, supporters of the cause include the Early Education charity, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and the APPG for Nursery Schools, Nursery and Reception Classes.

NAHT and Early Education recently sent a letter to 100 local authorities in England urging them stop ‘unnecessary’ plans to close the maintained nursery schools under their control.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We recognise the importance of maintained nursery schools and the valuable services they provide, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

“We are providing around £60 million of supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools during the 2020-21 financial year and are committed to funding for these settings in the longer term.”

The petition is set to be handed in at 10 Downing Street at 4pm tomorrow (Monday) and will be followed by a march to Parliament Square for a rally and speeches.

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