SHOCKED parents have been told that one of the most popular nurseries in the town may close.
Officials from Kirklees College informed parents at a public meeting held on Tuesday that the future of First Class Nursery in Portland Street was in serious doubt.
In the last Ofsted report, the nursery, run and financed by the college, achieved the grade “good” in all areas of education, health, welfare and facilities.
According to Ofsted, the nursery and crèche employs 33 staff, plus three support workers, and caters for some 120 children. Their parents are college staff, students and members of the public.
A letter was sent out to parents on May 16 by Huw Thomas, Kirklees College Director of Student Support.
He wrote: “Each year the college has to subsidise the cost of the childcare service and we cannot continue to do this. There will be some changes in staffing to improve efficiencies.
He continued: “During this year, the service will need to demonstrate an operating surplus in order for the college to be confident that we should continue to offer this provision.
“If the service is unable to generate a surplus in 2011/12, it is at risk of being closed completely in the summer of 2012.”
The letter was followed by a public meeting, which was attended by parents, Mr Thomas and the college’s childcare support manager June Davidson.
Several parents who attended came away with the impression that the closure was already “a done deal” and scheduled for summer 2012. Susan Greenwood, of Rafborn Grove, Salendine Nook, has launched a campaign to try to save First Class, which has been running for 18 years.
She and her three children have used the nursery for 13 years. Son Billy, (three), currently attends.
She said: “At the meeting I said the closure of the nursery sounded like ‘a done deal’ and that it was all too late for us to do anything to help and Huw Thomas, who was leading the meeting, said it was!
“We are devastated. Parents and staff feel really upset and angry. There is disbelief as it is an outstanding nursery.
“First Class Nursery is full and there is a long waiting list of children.
“It contributes in such a positive way to the community, yet it is clearly not going to be saved by Kirklees College.”
According to housing manager Mrs Greenwood, parents were told at the meeting that 27 of Kirklees College’s child care workers would be made redundant. If so, this represents over half of the 50 full-time job losses the College announced this week.
She added that the dedicated staff were in shock and that many had volunteered to job share or to work for reduced wages.
She has contacted other parents to rally support and set up a Facebook campaign at: savefirstclassnurs ery,huddersfield. She is also intending to write to local councillors and her MP.
A spokesman for the college said: “The restructuring of staff and removal of community crèche provision is the only ‘done deal.’
“We are still considering the long term viability of the provision of childcare, and the college is currently in consultation with the affected nursery and crèche staff around all of these issues.”
Kirklees College has gained a good reputation for its child care courses. In the past many of the students have had placements at First Class Nursery.
