There are only 389 MNS remaining in England serving 40,000 children, many located in the most deprived areas of the country.
MNS give our youngest children the best start in life, including those with special educational needs and disabilities – and ensure access to the highest quality provision for families in the poorest parts of the country.
- DfE statistics show MNS in deficit rose from 3.5% in 2009-10 to 17.7% in 2018-19.
- In 2020 all of the remaining MNS will have less money in real terms than in 2015.
- The Government announcement of £1 billion for schools excluded MNS.
Government supplementary funding of £60 million (30% of MNS budgets) annually has never been linked to inflation and ends March 2021.
MNS need adequate funding and a long-term funding solution so they can continue the essential work they do every day.
What you can do
Use this template letter to ask your MP to call for action now
What we did
Along with the School Cuts coalition, colleagues in Early Education and NAHT we have written to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education demanding:
- Supplementary funding for 2021-22 (and especially summer term 2021) increased in line with inflation back to 2016-17 real terms values.
- Additional resources and support to deal with Covid-19 costs.
- A review of the early years funding formula by 2021 at the very latest to implement a long-term funding solution for MNS.
MNS remain the most successful schools’ group for Ofsted ratings and play a huge role in improving social mobility. During the coronavirus pandemic, MNS have proved once again their value to our society, while many private settings have been forced to close, MNS have taken up the additional pressure by becoming Early Year Hubs and remained open for vulnerable children and those of critical workers.
All of this is under threat because of insufficient Government funding and support. MNS have had little or no access to additional funds provided to schools to combat the impact of coronavirus and no help to cover income lost as a result of remaining open during the pandemic.