haveyoursay@essexdaynurseries.org

This section of the website is where independent nursery providers can make their views known and keep up with progress on the issues they feel strongly about. EDNA seeks to represent the views of all independent nursery providers so you don't need to have joined to have your say but it makes us more representative if you do.

Equal funding for All Foundation Stage children.

When the free entitlement was first introduced in 1998, we were told that all children were funded at the same rate regardless of whether they attended an independent nursery or maintained school.  After all, we are all inspected against the same standards.

It has now been established that Essex County Council has been funding places within its own Maintained settings at £2,411 p.a. while only passing on £1,661 p.a. to children in independent settings.

Independent providers are calling for equal funding for all Foundation Stage children to be reinstated from the beginning of the summer term 2008.  Support the call for equal finding by completing the declaration form >>> here

Progress so far;

22/01/2008 - Issues concerning nursery providers identified in an agenda for 2008 - Read

20/03/2008 - Request for information about how Foundation Stage is funded in Essex - Read

27/03/2008 - Essex County Council response reveals inequality of funding across settings - Read

28/03/2008 - Briefing to providers inviting them to support the call for equal funding - Read

31/03/2008 - Request that Essex County Council provide equal funding for all FS children - Read

31/03/2008 - Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families alerted to situation in Essex - Read

21/04/2008 - Letter sent to our Pre-School Colleagues - Read

07/05/2008 - Essex County Council Response to request for equal funding - Read