This morning I met with concerned headteachers Ruth Williamson from Hetton-le-Hole Nursery School and Childcare, Alisa Higgins from Hetton Lyons Nursery School and Sarah Dixon-Jones from Houghton Community Nursery School and Mill Hill Nursery School to discuss the funding crisis they’re facing.

Under the government’s inadequate plans there is no funding guaranteed past 2020, meaning nursery schools are grappling with tough budget decisions, uncertainty, and many risk closure. By 2019-20, it’s estimated that 64% of maintained nurseries will be in deficit, before any new funding is even allocated.

On Tuesday, I will present a petition to Parliament on behalf of our community expressing their worries and demanding the government acts urgently to extend nursery funding beyond 2020.

Our nursery schools transform the lives of so many children and I’ll continue to fight for the support they need.