Parents protest potential nurseries closure

Parents in Leeds have been protesting a decision that could see three council run nurseries closed.

Parents in Leeds have demanded to know why their children's nurseries have been put at risk of closure.

The Little Owls sites in Gipton North, Kentmere and Chapel Allerton have been earmarked for closure in August.

Leeds City Council has carried out a review of nurseries, due to the financial challenges it was facing.

Parents who held a protest outside a council meeting on Wednesday, said they wanted to see the results of that review, and have called for "transparency".

Families demonstrating in Leeds on Wednesday said they have not received enough information from Leeds City Council

In March, Leeds City Council sent letters to parents, which explained that a review of all 24 nursery settings had taken place over the last year.

The pandemic and the number of staff vacancies had also contributed to the decision.

Parents told the BBC they were "shocked", "upset" and "distressed".

Following pressure from families, the potential closure date was pushed from May to August.

A Leeds City Council Spokesperson said: "We understand the concerns, these are proposals at this stage and we are continuing to engage with parents, carers and other stakeholders before any final decisions are made.”

Charlotte Broderick said Leeds City Council has not made enough effort to engage with parents

Charlotte Broderick, 31, was among those demonstrating on Wednesday.

Her daughter is autistic and non-verbal, and she said it was "terrifying" to think of moving her.

"Sending a special needs child into any care provision is frightening enough but to have finally found somewhere they're supported and then to find out that could all get taken away is really hard; to uproot her would be detrimental," she said.

Ms Broderick said so far she had received "absolutely no engagement" from Leeds City Council over the closures.

"Any information we've got as a parent group has been hard fought for.

"I don't think they're making any effort to engage with us seriously and I don't think they're making any effort to take our concerns seriously either."

Hattie Hodgson-Crome called the decision to potentially close the three nurseries "short-sighted"

Hattie Hodgson-Crome, 33, has two children who have both attended Little Owls nurseries in Leeds.

She said parents wanted to understand how and why the decision to potentially close the three sites had been made.

"Leeds City Council need to release all the documents they've produced in relation to the closure of Little Owls nurseries" she said.

"The process so far has felt really secretive and closed off.

"We've been told there are no documents relating to the review so we're really concerned about the basis on which this decision is being made and that it hasn't been thought through thoroughly."

'Starved of investment'

Reacting to campaigners' concerns, leader of the Green group, Cllr David Blackburn said: "Any change needs to be made working with the parents of the children who attend these centres."

Cllr Stewart Golton of the Liberal Democrats said: “These closures are a direct consequence of the Council’s poor financial management in Children's Services.

"The Little Owls nursery service has been starved of investment."

Garforth and Swillington Independent Cllr Mark Dobson said: "Council consultations appear to be ‘seen to be done’ rather than ‘done to be seen’.

"Whatever the views of the public, the council then go full steam ahead with their own proposals which makes a mockery of the system."