Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, has today secured a milestone achievement for the funding of West Dorset’s rural preschools. The local MP received assurances from the Prime Minister that a discretionary supplement in local authorities’ funding formulas will be introduced specifically for rural communities.
Mr Loder urged the Prime Minister to address the funding disparities affecting rural-based preschools. The local MP said: “The illustrative 24/25 Department for Education funding for two-year-olds pre-schooling is looking to be a net 17p per hour less than it is today. It is giving West Dorset pre-schools some nervousness about their sustainability.”
In response, the Prime Minister assured Mr Loder that a discretionary supplement in local authorities’ funding formulas will be introduced, accounting for the smaller economies of scale in rural communities.
Mr Loder’s question follows recent engagements with numerous preschools in the West Dorset constituency. The local MP has met with staff and parents involved with early years care and education to ensure that sector receives the funding it needs.
