Council-run nurseries could be axed in a bid to save money

Three council-run nurseries, set up to help families in deprived areas of the Wakefield district, could be axed if councillors back closure proposals.

Senior councillors in Wakefield will meet next week to consider the future of three nurseries – Airedale Neighbourhood Nursery, Ferry Fryston, Pomfret Neighbourhood Nursery in Pontefract and St Swithun’s Neighbourhood Nursery in Eastmoor, Wakefield.

They will be told that running the three nurseries is no longer financially viable and are being urged to give the go-ahead to shutting them down.

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If members back the closure proposals a total of 22 staff could loose their jobs.

Bosses at Wakefield Council say they can no longer afford to spend £171,000 each year to subsidise the three nurseries following the withdrawal of funding for the project.

The authority is also faced with having to find £67m in savings over four years after Government funding to the authority was cut.

If recommendations to close the nurseries are approved, the council is pledging to find alternative provision for the children affected.

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The recommendations come at the end of almost 12 months’ work by the local authority to find appropriate organisations to take over the nurseries and provide a sustainable service, but this was not successful.

Efforts to transfer Airedale and St Swithun’s to two different organisations have not proved viable, a report to members says.

A report to members of the local authority’s cabinet committee says: “Due to a number of factors and in particular high staffing costs and small numbers of children which continue to reduce, the local authority Neighbourhood Nurseries have never achieved sustainability.

“Since Government funding ceased, the council has supported the neighbourhood nurseries however, in the current economic climate the council cannot continue to subsidise the financial deficit that the neighbourhood nurseries continue to accrue,” the report adds

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Coun Olivia Rowley, cabinet member for children and young people said cutbacks had left the authority with little choice: “This is not an easy option and we know will cause distress and upset to families using these nurseries.

“But the Government cuts mean we have to reduce spending - we have no choice.

“Our first and foremost priority will be to support the families and children affected, and we are fully committed to helping them all find alternative childcare.

“Support will be offered to every family and officers will work with them to minimise any disruption to the parents and the children,” Coun Rowley added.

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The report, which will be considered by members of the local authority’s cabinet on November 29, highlights decreased demand in childcare places across the district, and has identified sufficient childcare places for the communities affected in the local or nearby area.

The nurseries were set up as part of an initiative by the previous Labour Government’s to increase the number of childcare places in deprived areas. The nurseries provide subsidised childcare for families on low income.

The report adds: “There has also been a decrease in demand for childcare places across the district, mirrored nationally, with an average of 17% vacancies in full-day-care provision.

“The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey 2010 found that vacancies were significantly higher in the 30% most deprived areas compared with the equivalent national figure.

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“There are a number of reasons why demand for childcare has decreased including, the current economic climate and the implementation of one-point of entry to school, where children attend school in September rather than in

September and January each year.”