By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
Nurseries could struggle if funding is not increased (Image: StockSnap, Pixabay) Councillors have continued to raise concerns over the long-term funding of nursery schools that could face annual deficits of up to £100,000 a year. Labour’s Cllr Pauline Coakley Webb called on Barnet Council to cover the budget shortfalls for the borough’s four maintained nursery schools at the end of the current financial year. But her bid failed after officers cautioned councillors against backing the request, warning that it may not be lawful. Barnet has four maintained nurseries – Brookhill, Hampden Way, St Margaret’s and Moss Hall. They missed out on a grant from the Department for Education designed to help maintained nurseries following a shake-up of early years funding in 2017-1