Council-run, maintained nurseries are required to have qualified teachers, unlike other early years settings, and often specialise in supporting children with SEND.
Currently they receive £55m a year in extra funding in recognition of the extra costs they incur recruiting specialist staff, but this is set to end after the 2019/20 financial year.
A survey of 56 councils by the Local Government Association found that 61 per cent believe that maintained nurseries in their area could close if this funding is not protected. Of those surveyed 19 (33 per cent) said it was "very likely" that nurseries would close in their area without funding protection.
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