CHANGES to how early years providers are funded could be “devastating” to Bradford nurseries, representatives from local schools have been told.

The Bradford Schools’ Forum was discussing new Government funding changes at its first meeting of the school year today, and members were told a major shake up in funding for places for three and four-year-olds would be bad news for the district.

The central Government changes will see the district get an extra £600,000 to fund places for two-year-olds. But at the same time, a reduction in funding for places for three and four-year-olds will see the area losing out on over £3 million of funding.

Andrew Redding, schools finance officer for Bradford Council, told the forum, made up of representatives from primary, secondary, special and early years schools: "The impact of this reduction will be different for different types of early years providers, but we are talking about a devastating impact to our nursery schools."

The changes will see the per hour funding for three and four year olds in Bradford dropping from £5.08 an hour to £4.55 an hour.

Also affected would be extra funding the forum could provide to nurseries in deprived areas, and money to help nursery schools remain sustainable.

These nurseries will face the biggest hit - losing out an average of £1.29 for each hour of three/four year old care.

Mr Redding said half of the £3m reduction would come into play in 2017, with the other half in 2018, adding: “These cuts are staring us in the face right now.

“We were talking about this at the early years’ working group earlier this week, it was a thoroughly depressing meeting.”

The report to the forum said 112 councils would gain from the proposals, while 38 would lose out. Bradford would be the worst affected authority in Yorkshire.

The pressures will increase next year, when the Government introduces a new policy entitling many families to 30 free hours of pre school care. The forum was told this meant more places would have to be provided at a lower funding rate.

The forum will tomorrow send its reply to a Government consultation on the changes, raising its concerns.