LSE students campaign to save on-site nursery from axe

The LSE Students’ Union has launched a campaign to save the campus-based nursery which provides childcare for both staff and students.

LSE Students’ Union Community and Welfare Officer Laura Goddard said, ‘LSE’s decision to close its nursery is a disastrous move that will hit women and student parents the hardest. It is a cost-saving exercise made during the height of a pandemic, which will only add to the uncertainty that parents face.

‘This is after LSE have promised a more inclusive and diverse community in its ‘2030 Strategy’. As a Students’ Union we’re calling on the School to reinstate accessible, affordable childcare on campus.’

A LSE spokesperson said that the nursery had to close its current central London site temporarily because of changes to the lease. ‘After exploring all options, it was clear the financial impact and social distancing requirements of Covid-19 mean an on-campus alternative was not immediately available,’ she added. 

Childcare has been provided by LSE since the 1970s but the nursery was threatened with closure in 2010 and 2015. The Students Union successfully campaigned to keep it open on these occasions.

The nursery’s closure has forced Miriam Rahali (right), a student parent at LSE and a sole carer, to move back to her home country. ‘Although the School originally promised this to be a temporary closure, in their decision not to reinstate the nursery this term, I have been forced to move back to the US after seven years at the LSE,’ she said.

‘While the School is building two new state-of-the-art buildings, neither have allocated nursery provision. This sends a subtle, but significant, message that contributions made to the School community by parents and carers have not only been deprioritised, but also devalued.’ 

The LSE is currently seeking input and views on the future of childcare provision at LSE. ‘An open discussion and consultation with the whole LSE community is now underway, exploring how we can best support parents and carers with young children, especially as the way we work is evolving,’ said a spokesperson.

‘This consultation sets out to understand the changing needs of the parent and carer community, the challenges they face and how LSE can support them. We will take into consideration impact on key groups, ensuring gender, race, socio-economic and other factors are accounted for, so that we find a solution which supports the wide range of parents and carers represented at LSE.'