The Preschool Learning Alliance says its members fear such a change would risk children's safety and well-being.

BBC: Cutting nursery staff ratios 'may reduce care quality'

The Preschool Learning Alliance says the government funding was never enough, so nurseries had to subsidise the free places themselves.

BBC: Cutting nursery staff ratios 'may reduce care quality'

The children's TV show "Sesame Street, " long a source of preschool learning, recently launched a new segment, "Elmo the Musical, " which infuses counting, calculations and shapes into singing, dancing and games.

WSJ: Top Math Resources for Preschoolers

In truth, the other thing pushing parents to send kids to preschool is the cold reality that kindergarten has become the new first grade, with parents pushing academic learning earlier with the fear that their kids will fall behind if they don't meet major milestones like reading well before what is considered normal.

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