By Mark Smulian | 7 August 2014
Councils are to gain powers to withdraw funds from early-years education providers who teach creationism or have links to extremist organisations.
The move by education secretary Nicky Morgan will also see providers required to teach young children ‘fundamental British values’, including learning right from wrong, taking turns and sharing and challenging negative attitudes and stereotypes.
Ofsted will also inspect early years providers against these criteria.
Morgan said: ‘One of the most important roles of the education system is that it should prepare young people for life in modern Britain.
‘I am clear that public money should not be used to support any school or early years provider that does not support this aim.’
The Department for Education received some 450 responses from organisations or individuals expressing opposition to early education funding going to providers who promote extremist views or teach creationism as scientific fact.
The British Humanist Association said its research had found 84 nurseries that received funding despite concerns about how they taught evolution, while a further seven had caused concerns about extremism.
Chief executive Andrew Copson said: ‘We welcome Nicky Morgan’s decision to preclude creationist and extremist schools from receiving state funding through their nurseries.’
