Changes to free nursery places in Camden revealed

Changes to free nursery places in Camden have been revealed.

The government has reduced Camden’s funding, meaning that to continue financing three and four-year-old’s 30 hours a week of free nursery time would have resulted in a funding gap of five million, according to the Camden Council.

As a result, at last night’s cabinet meeting, the council agreed to cut the 30 hours in half, depending on the eligibility of the children’s families.

From September, if you have a child aged three or four the new offer will be 15 hours for all families, plus an additional 15 hours for working families and 15 hours for families who meet the current criteria for two-year-old nursery provision.

Cllr Angela Mason, cabinet member for children at Camden Council, said: “Camden has pioneered 30 hours’ free nursery provision and we are glad that the government is now extending provision for working parents. However, this should not be at the expense of poorer children whose parents are not working.

“The new funding formula for early years will not provide enough money to continue with the universal Camden offer, but I am pleased that Camden has decided to go beyond the statutory offer and fund extra hours for those children and families in greatest need of a helping hand in the crucial early years of life.”