Hi , I wonder what anyone makes of this?
On Thursday 15 May 2008 I received a letter from my daughter?s nursery, informing me that from the 1 June, the Council has decided that nursery children ages 3 and 4 must pay £1.80 per day for their lunches, regardless of their parents? income. They are no discounts for unemployed or low-income parents, and no facilities for bringing packed lunches.
I lost my job in February and have been paying for my daughter's nursery out of my weekly unemployment money. We can only afford 3 mornings a week, barely enough time for me to look for work. Although my daughter is 3 1/2 there are no free nursery places available for her in our area. We have been on the waiting list for a school nursery for over a year. With a September birthday my daughter will not be able to start reception until 2009.
Do you have to pay for your toddler's lunches? Even if you are on a low income or currently out of work? If you live in Islington, has your nursery also started this new policy?
The government says that ?Every three and four year old in England is entitled to 12.5 hours of free early learning per week, in nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools or at their childminders for 38 weeks of the year.? This is a farce. The only free education for under 5s comes at state nurseries for which there are very few places. And now on top of that Islington Council is charging for 3 and 4 year olds lunches.
Thanks for listening and for any input.