Yesterday, myself and Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers met with the Education Secretary, Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP to discuss maintained nursery schools in Barnet.
Maintained nursery schools have struggled since changes were made to early years funding allocations in 2015. The Education Secretary assured us that he is determined to resolve the funding issues and has also launched a review into the funding arrangements. He has committed to finding a solution that provides certainty for the nurseries.
This is fantastic news that the review will take place. I am pleased the campaign that Theresa Villiers and I have been running together has paid off, helped by Gavin’s commitment to sorting the issue.
Following the meeting, Gavin Williamson MP said, “Theresa Villiers and Mike Freer have been relentless campaigners for maintained nursery schools in Barnet - in fact theirs was one of the first calls I took when I became Education Secretary.”
“I am determined to find a solution to the specific funding problems faced by maintained nurseries in Barnet and I can confirm that the Department for Education will be launching a review on the future of maintained nursery schools that I expect to provide a clear outcome that puts maintained nursery schools in Barnet on a stable financial footing for the future.”
“Mike and Theresa have been relentless champions for education in Barnet and I thank them for getting and keeping this key issue on the agenda and their broader work championing these excellent schools.”
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