St Helens headteacher calls nursery funding policy 'immoral'

Following a recent change in government policy, nurseries have been told they will only receive funding for next term based on the number of children in attendance on national census day on Thursday.

Nurseries that are still open can count children whose parents have decided to keep them home.

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Where nurseries have restricted attendance, however, as a result of a risk assessment, the government has said it will withhold funding.

The school leaders’ union NAHT has warned many nursery places may disappear by the end of the year unless the government changes its policy.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said the current approach “threatens the very existence of some nurseries and nursery classes”.

Andy Howard, St Helens NAHT branch official and headteacher of Legh Vale Primary School and Nursery, said maintained nursery schools are being put in an “impossible position”.

“Where nurseries have been forced to restrict attendance to vulnerable children or critical worker children as a result of a risk assessment, the government has said it will withhold funding next term,” he said.

“I believe this is fundamentally wrong and immoral.

“School/nursery leaders are being put in an impossible position forcing them to choose between the of safety of staff, children, their families and the communities they serve and financial survival.

“Can I be clear – this is not about asking for extra money, it’s simply a case of ensuring all nurseries and schools receive the funding they would normally receive outside of a national lockdown.

“The government has put leaders in maintained nursery schools in an invidious, if not impossible position.

“For many headteachers in St Helens this goes against their governing body decision to restrict attendance and against their current risk assessments for their site.

“It also goes against union advice for teaching and non-teaching staff.”

Mr Howard revealed that 12 nurseries/early years settings have had to close due to Covid-19 since the start of term.

He said school leaders do not believe it is safe to fully open to large numbers of children and parents.

This is why many settings are appealing to parents and carers to only take up a place at nursery if it is absolutely essential.

Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education

Mr Howard said: “The new variant of Covid-19 is up to 70 per cent more transmissible and we do not believe it is safe to fully open to large numbers of children and parents.

“School and nursery sites have been identified as infection vectors (somewhere the virus can be more easily spread back to households) consequently, the safest place currently for children and families is at home.

“Therefore, to comply and be open for funding, many settings are fully opening nursery provision from Thursday, January 21, but are appealing to parents/carers to only take up a place at nursery if it is absolutely essential, as the government’s guidance has made it clear that where parents have chosen to keep their children away from nursery (where the provider remains open to the child) these children can still be counted.”

Mr Howard said school leaders are working closely with St Helens Borough Council.

He said the local authority are supporting schools, but have to reiterate the government’s existing position that nursery funding will be based on attendance on census day later this week.

“This situation is far from ideal,” Mr Howard said.

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“As school leaders we are passionate about education, it is at the heart of what we do, and we cannot wait to have everyone back in nursery and school again.

“But, until the situation improves, safety becomes the most paramount issue.

“I would like to thank you all parents for their patience and understanding as together we can help to get things back to normal and keep everyone safe.