It has emerged that Croydon and Richmond councils are the only two local authorities not to have met the government target of part-time, free nursery education for every three-year-old.
Children's minister Margaret Hodge made the admission at the National Day Nurseries Association conference in Chester last week, when delegates criticised her for saying that the Government had met its target six months ahead of time.
"It was a shock to find two local authorities not making the provision," said NDNA chief executive Rosemary Murphy.
Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, Richmond's cabinet member for schools, said it would have to raise council tax to meet demand. "Complying with the Government expectation to provide nursery places free for all will cost the council an additional 700,000." Both councils said they funded places for three-year-olds in need. The Department for Education and Skills said officials were working to find a solution.
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