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Parents disapprove of government plans to cut funding of nursery schools

Video report by ITV News Anglia's Sarah Cooper

Parents and teachers say state funded nursery schools across our region could be forced to close if proposed funding changes go ahead.

The Government says it wants to make sure money is allocated more fairly across the country, as part of its plan to offer 30 hours of free childcare a week for three and four-year-olds.

“Maintained nursery schools make up a small but important part of the childcare families rely on in Cambridge. That’s why we’ve committed an extra £55 million funding per year to give these nurseries stability for at least the next two years – this is backed up by our record £6 billion investment in childcare by the end of the Parliament. We will be consulting on maintained nursery schools in due course and will continue to work closely with the sector on this.”

– Department for Education spokesperson

Campaigners say it could mean nursery schools lose hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"It's essential that we get that start for young children, because we know how important the early years are, so, I've been talking to parliamentary colleagues, cross party, to try and persuade the minister to think again, she's new in the job, so, I'm hoping she will listen to us."

– Daniel Zeichner MP, Cambridge, Lab