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<p>The government recognises that maintained nursery schools are an important part
of the early years sector and provide valuable services, especially in disadvantaged
areas.</p><p>We are committed to funding for maintained nursery schools in the longer
term. Last October, we announced that maintained nursery schools would continue to
receive supplementary funding for the whole of the financial year 2020-21 and this
is unchanged by the COVID-19 outbreak, along with their funding for the usual early
education entitlements through the dedicated schools grant. At the moment, our resources
are focused on tackling the unprecedented challenges created by COVID-19. But resolving
the long-term funding of maintained nursery schools is high on our list of priorities
and we will return to it as soon as we are able. Any reform to the way maintained
nursery schools are funded in the future will be accompanied by appropriate funding
protections.</p><p>Unlike most state-funded schools, maintained nursery schools typically
rely on private income for a significant proportion of their total income. Therefore,
we have ensured that access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is also available
to maintained nursery schools, in line with the published guidance.</p><p>Maintained
nursery schools can access the free school meal vouchers via Edenred.</p>
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