Changes to funding for 3 and 4 year olds

Valerie Vaz Excerpts

Thursday 2nd March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of the UK,

Declares that the Government’s consultation paper (Early Years Funding: changes to funding for 3 and 4 year olds 11 August 2016) outlined proposals that will leave nursery schools financially nonviable, forcing them to close; notes that this funding will not cover basic costs, let alone staffing with qualified teachers; and further notes that state nursery schools have very good outcomes with regard to closing the achievement gap and supporting children with special needs, and that state nursery schools are legally required to employ highly-qualified teaching staff, who are proven to give young children the best opportunities for academic achievement and enabling social mobility.

The petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to urge the Government to recognise the school status of state nursery schools and fund them accordingly.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P002022]

A petition in similar terms has been signed by 304 people.