I have just had a message from Deputy Louise Doublet advising me that the information we have been provided with in the press releases to date is not clear and does not actually reflect the change they are making. She has managed to clarify the following: - It is only funded places in PRIVATE nurseries which will be denied to those earning over £75,000 - Places in States school nurseries will still be available to those earning over £75,000. - Those earning less than £75,000 can still access either type of funded provision - It is not clear whether places in school nurseries for families earning over £75,000 will be prioritised or guaranteed in any way So in fact the changes will have even bigger adverse implications for working parents than it first appeared and are an example of inexplicable discrimination against private pre-schools and working parents. Working parents will ONLY have the option of a States nursery if they wish to obtain NEF funding, therefore they will be unable to utilise the flexibility private pre-schools provide in terms of additional hours, wrap around care and, at some pre-schools, school holiday cover. There are insufficient places in States nurseries already, and there are four States primary schools which don’t have a nursery class at all. Are the proposed savings from these changes going to make pay to build four new States nursery schools and staff them before September 2017? And what are working parents supposed to do about the loss of wrap around care, additional hours, and school holiday cover? As we said in the initial petition, this is unacceptable and OPEN and THOROUGH consultation is urgently required. Deputy Doublet is arranging a public hearing on 6 April 2016 - further updates will be provided once we know more.