Ministers have been asked to clarify government policy on part-time funded nursery places after claims councils may be “ignoring” official guidelines.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith is seeking assurances that funded places have not been withdrawn from private nurseries.
If this happens, parents need to find another partner nursery or risk losing a part-time funded place.
In some cases this can be worth up to £1,550 per year for each child.
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The Code of Practice on the free entitlement to nursery education will be implemented from September, the Government has confirmed, despite pre-election promises by the Conservatives to suspend it.
The news will come as a blow to some nursery owners who were hoping the Tories would fulfil their pledge to postpone the Code and allow settings to charge top-up fees.
A Government spokesperson said, ‘The new Code of Practice will come into force in September, to ensure that local authorities are working to a clear common framework in implementing the extension to 15 hours. However, we will be looking to streamline this guidance next year.’
