Nurseries may have to raise charges to meet SNP pledge

Published on Monday 20 July 2009 22:03

NURSERY school leaders have warned they will have to charge parents more to fulfil the government's pledge to give every child access to a nursery teacher if more public funding is not provided.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) wrote to every MSP earlier this month setting out concerns surrounding the government's early years pledges.

The letter says nursery managers support the bid to increase staffing levels, but calls for clarity on how this is to be paid for after early years minister, Adam Ingram, made it clear there would be no more money.

The letter says: "Many (nurseries] have huge questions about funding.

"Not only is learning and development expensive with course fees, cover costs and higher salaries, but PVI (private, voluntary and independent] nurseries find it hard to retain these staff in the face of better salaries from state provision."

Private, voluntary and independent nurseries make up 80 per cent of early years education in Scotland, with 20 per cent provided by the state.

Employing a graduate nursery teacher will have a significant impact on the majority of nurseries run as small businesses, as teachers can earn 10,000 more than nursery nurses.

The letter adds: "Nurseries are concerned about how they can pay a graduate salary and indeed the wages of better qualified staff at other levels.

"With an average of up to 75-80 per cent of parental fees being spent directly on staff wages already and sustainability issues across the sector, nurseries will be forced to put prices up to cover this extra expense – or risk losing recently developed staff.

"This poses a threat to nurseries being able to deliver the affordable services that the Early Years Framework sets out."

Mr Ingram earlier this year launched the Early Years Framework, a document which sets out ambitious plans for early years education.

Purnima Tanuku, NDNA chief executive, said: "The current government funding is not enough. The amount local authorities provide per hour doesn't cover the full cost of running a nursery. Nurseries shouldn't be liable for the cost of meeting this policy."

She also asked the government for more clarity on what the manifesto pledge of "access" to a nursery teacher actually meant.

Last year The Scotsman revealed the pledge could mean children seeing a teacher as little as once a week.

An EIS spokesman said: "The EIS is clear that having fleeting contact with a teacher is not the same as being taught full-time by a teacher.

"It is time for the Scottish Government to define precisely what their commitment means and for all local authorities to ensure that all children across the country receive the high-quality nursery education that they deserve."