Annette Brooke MP, Liberal Democrat shadow minister for Children, Schools and Families, has sent a petition expressing dismay at a controversial new government funding formula for preschools and nurseries to Dawn Primarolo, her Government counterpart.
The new funding formula sets out a fall in the base rate of funding to preschools and nurseries from £3.44 per hour per child to £2.74.
More than three quarters of Poole's preschools and nurseries signed the petition. The new funding formula could threaten many providers of childcare in Poole with closure.
Despite the resistance, the Poole Schools Forum wants to implement the new formula and is currently awaiting the approval of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). If approved, the new formula will be implemented in Poole from April of this year.
Annette Brooke commented "alarm bells are ringing at the approach taken by Poole Borough Council, which seems way out of line with other councils. I am extremely concerned for the future of preschool and nursery provision in Poole."
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