Why is the govt buliding even more children's centres when 'exisiting provision' has to be filled first and most nurseries have vacancies?

[Bubble99]

This has happened to us.

I own a children's daycare nursery which will be 50 metres away from a new 'Children's Centre' offering full daycare.

The governement directive is for LA's to use and fund places in local state and private nurseries first. We have vacancies, as do all of the other nurseries in the area, so why is the govt wasting squillions on building a daycare nursery?

There was one opened recently which was operating and staffing for one child.

[fishie]

capital and revenue are not looked at together and it is a bloody huge waste of money.

although i must say taht in my area an existing nursery has been given children's centre status. and there are waiting lists in all the state nurseries here.

[Bubble99]

We've been told that the LA will use our nursery (and others locally) first to provide childcare, which they will pay for, 'free at the point of delivery.'

This is, obviously, good news for us as it means our nursery will fill.

I just can't see why they then need to go ahead and build an extra nursery in the area. I can't see the demand for it.

[mummytosteven]

How much is it due to the other functions - HV/SS/various Surestart initiatives, as opposed to providing childcare?