Nursery World - Nurseries in dark on transfer from council

Confusion reigned last week over the future of three of five council-run nurseries in an inner London borough. After weeks of protests by parents over threatened loss of services, Lambeth council said last week that it intended to transfer three of its nurseries over to the voluntary sector in order to cut expenditure in the year 2004/05. But a council spokeswoman later confirmed that bids were also being sought for the settings from private providers.

After weeks of protests by parents over threatened loss of services, Lambeth council said last week that it intended to transfer three of its nurseries over to the voluntary sector in order to cut expenditure in the year 2004/05. But a council spokeswoman later confirmed that bids were also being sought for the settings from private providers.

The council issued the statement after parents and children joined playworkers and local residents outside Lambeth town hall on 5 February to protest against closure threats to nurseries, One O'Clock clubs and adventure playgrounds in the borough.

Bo Ebuehi, the mother of a three-year-old boy who attends the Kennington Day Nursery, wrote to the council more than two weeks ago with a letter signed by 14 parents asking for clarification, but said she has not yet received a reply. She said Lambeth council had also closed a nursery six years ago which her daughters had attended, 'so I know from personal experience how disruptive closure can be'.

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