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Councils prioritise reception classes over early years care

Children could miss out on their entitlement to free early years care as local authorities prioritise primary school places to meet a rise in demand, an education union has warned.

Deborah Lawson, general secretary of Voice, raised the concerns following news that nursery schools attached to primary schools in two separate local authorities are to be closed to make room for reception classes.

Greville Primary School in Ashtead, Surrey, announced its nursery school will close in July in time to convert it into a second reception class on the site.

In a similar move, Southfields Nursery at Southfields Primary School in Peterborough will also convert to accommodate school starters in September.

The shortage of primary school places, largely caused by a population bulge, is expected to top 250,000 by 2014 according to figures published in March by the National Audit Office.

However, the closures come at a time when local authorities are also trying to expand early years provision to provide disadvantaged two-year-olds with free childcare, as part of a government scheme.

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