Provision
Campaigners rally to save council nursery
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition against council plans to close a local authority nursery in the centre of Brighton, following the launch by parents and staff of a campaign to save the 21-year-old setting.
Bright Start's supporters led a protest march against cuts through Brighton
The council plans to shut the 51-place Bright Start nursery next April to save money. Eighteen nursery staff jobs are under threat.
The nursery is used by council employees and the local community, but the council argues that although it is highly valued by parents, it only benefits a small percentage of council employees.
The nursery is due to close in April, leaving 26 of the 79 children without childcare, just four months before they are due to start school.
The council subsidy for the nursery for 2010/11 is £87,000. The council has said it needs to save £7.1 million from the Children and Young People's Trust budget for 2011/12.
The council's report said that the nursery building needs 'a substantial capital investment' of £230,000, including work on the children's toilets and the heating. But campaigners dispute the figure.
Nursery practitioner and Unison representative Dave Jones accused the council of 'using the nursery's wish-list' to improve the building against them as a justification for closure.
He said the nursery had applied for Early Years Capital Grant funding last year but was turned down.
Lack of childcare provision
Campaigners also point to a shortage of nursery places in the city centre, especially for under-twos, including the recent closure of Regent House private day nursery.
Danielle Sheerin, mother of a three-year-old, said, 'One of the council's biggest objections is that staff are paid more than private nurseries because they have been there a long time. But we picked this nursery because staff had worked there a long time and we knew my daughter would have consistent, good quality care. She's incredibly settled. She knows the staff and adores them. It's ultimately disruptive.
'There are very few nurseries in the city centre. We wanted to have somewhere near our work so we can drop her off at 8.30 and pick her up at 5.15.'
Ms Sheerin added, 'There's a lot of strong feelings about this. Parents have said they won't be able to work.'
Dave Jones said that staff and parents are putting forward their own proposal to keep the nursery open because the council had dismissed their suggestions.
He said, 'We strongly believe that there is an alternative to closure. The subsidy is small by council standards, and has been falling for many years.
'Ironically, just getting rid of 18 jobs in our city will cost the taxpayer more money than the subsidy in lost taxes and benefits paid.
A council spokesperson said, 'We are consulting with staff directly affected and with parents. The council continues to be committed to providing high-quality childcare in its children's centres in communities across the city.
'The city also has a healthy childcare market, with childcare places available across the city with private, voluntary and independent childcare providers. The quality of provision across the city is high, with 80 per cent of all childcare providers receiving good or outstanding Ofsted inspections.'
FURTHER INFORMATION
Sign the nursery's petition at http://www.petition.co.uk/savebrightstartnursery
