Another new battle as funding under threat

ANOTHER week, another new battle to protect local services.

This time it is maintained nursery schools in Lancashire.

Staghills Nursery School in Rawtenstall, Bacup Nursery School and Hillside Nursery School in Haslingden could no longer pay qualified teachers without the funding they receive, and that funding is under threat from government.

Teachers from the nurseries have been to Parliament to raise concerns and are being supported by, among others, Rossendale MP Jake Berry.

He has signed a letter to the Early Years Minister asking for a rethink.

Mr Berry said: “Funding has been secured until 2019 but it’s vital this is extended beyond then as a nursery school education makes a significant difference to disadvantaged children in Rossendale and Darwen.”

Similar concerns are being voiced by Lancashire county council.

Not for the first time, we are seeing politicians from across the political divide unite against ridiculous proposals being proposed by Whitehall and government ministers.

For a government which, under new prime minister Theresa May, promised to help give everyone the best possible start in life, to so soon be talking about scrapping vital nursery education funding is, quite simply, breath taking.