Education chiefs are looking for a rapid expansion in private nursery places, in the wake of news government-funded pre schools are to close from September.

It's a money-saving measure which they say avoids further loss of teaching staff and larger classes in primary and secondary schools.

But it isn't proving popular - hundreds of parents have joined a Facebook group opposed to the plan.

There are also more than 3,000 signatures to a petition.

Higher education funding for university undergraduate fees has been spared.

Stuart Dobson is chief executive at the Department for Education and Children.

He says there's a major opportunity now for private sector nurseries to expand:

Andrew Shipley, Association of the Teachers and Lecturers IoM branch secretary, says the news is a real blow to all involved in education and fly in the face of the high regard supposedly put on it in the Isle of Man.

A protest is planned outside Tynwald at 1pm on Tuesday (Feb 21).