The second was less widely publicised, but has the potential to be evenmore important; the Department for Education and Skills' Consultation onSchool, Early Years and 14-16 Funding 2008-11. Tucked away amongdescriptions of how the Dedicated Schools Grant and Schools Budget mightbe decided and distributed, are suggestions for how the Government canbest fund and manage early years provision (see Analysis, p12). Perhapsmost importantly, the consultation explores how to pay for the freeentitlement for three- and four-year-olds.
Campaigners have long complained that private and voluntary sectorproviders have been penalised when offering the free entitlement as thefunds often don't cover costs. As a result, bodies like the National DayNurseries Association have become increasingly vocal in demands toringfence this cash and, only last month, its chief executive, PurnimaTanuku, called for the Government to adopt such a policy as part ofChildren Now's ongoing manifesto initiative (Children Now, 28 February-6March).
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