Review to take place for funding arrangements into maintained nursery schools in Barnet

It comes following a meeting in Parliament with Barnet MPs Mike Freer and Theresa Villiers, where Mr Williamson ordered a review into funding arrangements for maintained nursery schools in the area.

These include Brookhill, Hampden Way and St Margaret’s in High Barnet and Moss Hall in North Finchley.

Mr Williamson vowed to find a solution to put these Barnet schools on a stable financial footing for the future.

He said: “Theresa Villiers and Mike Freer, have been relentless campaigners for maintained nursery schools in Barnet - in fact theirs was one of the first calls I took when I became Education Secretary.”

“I am determined to find a solution to the specific funding problems faced by maintained nurseries in Barnet face and I can confirm that the Department for Education will be launching a review on the future of maintained nursery schools.

“I expect it to provide a clear outcome that puts maintained nursery schools in Barnet on a stable financial footing for the future.”

In February Mrs Villiers and Mr Freer presented petitions in Parliament calling for maintained nursery schools in Barnet to be saved, which saw over a thousand signatures.

After the meeting with Mr Williamson last week, Mr Freer said: “It is fantastic news that a review into maintained nursery schools will take place. I am pleased that the campaign Theresa Villiers and I have been running has paid off, helped by Gavin’s commitment to sorting out this long running problem.

“This marks a great step forward for education in Barnet, and I eagerly await the results of the review.”

Mrs Villiers added: “I very much welcome the announcement of a review into maintained nursery schools and Gavin’s commitment to sorting out this long-running problem.

“I have been campaigning to save the maintained nursery schools in my constituency and I believe that today’s visit marks an important step towards securing the future of these outstanding schools.”