Tom Jeffery, director general of the DfES's children, young people and families directorate, told a Pre-School Learning Alliance conference this was one option being discussed.
The concept was welcomed by delegates who voiced concern about current and future funding.
Emma Jones, manager of a community nursery in Tottenham, said she struggled to retain trained staff, who were lured away by higher salaries offered by schools. This was one problem highlighted by the alliance's new Meeting the Workforce Challenge campaign, which calls on the Government to take urgent action to support the recruitment and retention of up to 180,000 extra childcare workers.
Jeffery said the Government was developing a workforce strategy and consulting with the voluntary sector on the best way to ensure providers were integrated within trusts.
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