NURSERIES in Oxford face a 32 per cent cut in funding under new government proposals, a Labour councillor has warned.

Marie Tidball said the plans would see the average amount provided to the city's maintained nurseries fall from £5.90 an hour to as little as £4, cutting the amount they can pay staff.

The funding formula is designed to help providers offer the Conservative Government’s 30-hours of free childcare for working parents, due to be increased from the current 15 hours.

It will apply to three and four-year-olds from September 2017, with ministers claiming the formula is a 'fairer' way of distributing cash.

But Ms Tidball, who represents Hinksey Park on Oxford City Council, said it would 'sabotage the education opportunities for nursery aged-children'.

She added: "The Government's plan to slash funding for three and four year olds’ education will put in jeopardy nursery education of our children."

There are four maintained nurseries in Oxford. They include Comper Foundation Stage School in East Oxford, Grandpont Nursery School in South Oxford, Headington Nursery School and The Slade Nursery School.

Slade Nursery headteacher Carol Lister said: "In Oxfordshire the concern is that we do not get the same kind of weighting provided in London.

"The costs of living for staff here are higher than other areas and that makes it harder to deliver services with the new rates.

"The main reason we think it is important to keep maintained nurseries is they work in areas of deprivation and research indicates that they make a significant difference to children's lives."

Ms Tidball added: "As a child, I started my own education in a maintained nursery in South Yorkshire.

"They play a powerful role in achieving social mobility by closing the education gap and getting kids, no matter what their background, school-ready."

Her comments were backed by Labour's Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, who described the changes as 'short-sighted.

Mr Smith said: "With other concerned MPs I have written to Early Years Minister Caroline Dineneage urging the government to give more support to nurseries.

"Evidence shows that children attending state nurseries make the most progress and continue to accelerate in attainment through primary school."

But government minister Ms Dinenage said: "Education lies at the heart of this government’s ambition to make this a country that works for everyone – and today we are reaffirming our commitment by announcing this new, fairer way of funding our early years.

"It will ensure the dedicated individuals caring for our children have the support they need to give every child the best start, especially when looking after those who are most in need.

"We have listened to the many views shared in our consultation, and these have played a pivotal role in shaping our final proposals which aim to make our education system sustainable, transparent, and above all, fair for everyone."