Provision
Outstanding university nursery is under threat
A nursery at the University of Brighton that was rated Outstanding by Ofsted is the latest campus setting threatened with closure.
Demonstrators protest at the closure plans
On Monday nursery staff, student parents and children lobbied the university's board of governors to protest against the plans, which involve closing the Phoenix Nursery and consolidating provision at the One World Nursery on Moulsecoomb campus.
Unison has warned that places for students and staff will be cut and up to five nursery staff jobs could be lost.
Parent Jonathan Chapman, a lecturer at the university whose son attends Phoenix, has put forward a business plan which the university is now considering.
Following the meeting, Mr Chapman presented his case to the university's senior management. He said, 'The meeting was very constructive. There are still one or two small issues and we are going to meet again to look into it further.'
The university says it is costing £180,000 a year to subsidise both nurseries, which open 45 weeks a year, and that neither one is full.
Mr Chapman proposes opening up the nursery to parents in the local community, which would remove the need for the subsidy and generate profit.
'The argument is beyond money. It's also about trying to share the cultural benefits of having a university nursery with residents.'
Both nurseries are rated 'outstanding' and have some staff working towards Early Years Professional Status. They also offer placements for the university's Early Years Foundation Degree.
Joint manager of Phoenix, Sue Rogers, said she has had to turn away local parents who 'knock on the door' because they are aware of the nursery's outstanding status.
She said, 'If they amalgamate the nurseries at least four staff will be made redundant and two exceptional teams will be split up.'
A joint statement issued by Unison, university and parent representatives on Monday said, 'Union and parent representatives met with senior management and the chair of the board of governors following this morning's board meeting. It was made clear that no final decisions have been made and management is actively looking at all aspects of the newly revised proposal.'
Further information
The Save Phoenix Nursery Facebook group is at http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?v=wall&gid=259843589693
