Parents tell of shock at nursery closures plan

Leeds City Council has proposed the closure of three Little Owls nurseries

Parents in Leeds have told of their "heartbreak" at news that three nurseries in the city could close this spring.

Three Little Owls nurseries are earmarked for closure in May if council proposals are agreed.

Parent Liz Balaban said she was "shocked" to learn her child's nursery in Chapel Allerton could close.

Leeds City Council said the closures were planned "in order to make important savings".

Leeds City Council has been reviewing its nursery provision over the last 12 months

In letters to parents, the city council explained that due to significant financial challenges, the pandemic and the number of staff vacancies, a review of all 24 nursery settings had been taking place over the last 12 months.

Little Owls nurseries in Chapel Allerton, Kentmere and Gipton North are earmarked for closure.

The council said there was a sufficient number of alternative places for the children affected.

The decision to close would be taken by mid-April, with the facilities shutting at the end of May, the council said.

'Really shocked'

Ms Balaban, 37, told the BBC she was "really shocked" when she found out the Chapel Allerton nursery was earmarked for closure.

"It's a really difficult decision when you've got young children to put them in somebody else's care but we felt really happy to send them to Little Owls," she said.

"The thought of having to make that decision again and research lots of nurseries is upsetting."

Charlie Frear, 37, is pregnant with her third child, and was due to use the Kentmere nursery from November.

Her five-year-old son attended the Seacroft nursery for more than two years and her four-year-old daughter is currently in attendance.

"She has a great bond with all the staff - to be told they are closing was distressing not just for me but my daughter.

"She struggles with new faces, so the change of nursery is going to be difficult."

Parent Liz Balaban said she was "shocked" to learn her child's nursery could close

Ariella Warner's daughter has been going to the Little Owls nursery in Chapel Allerton for the last year.

She said: "It's a shame to hear, it will be a loss to see the nursery go.

"I cried when I heard, it's emotional because I built a good rapport with the team.

"I felt like my heart fell out of my body."

'It's absolutely heart-breaking'

Hayleigh Michelle Austin-Richards said staff at Little Owls in Gipton North were "in tears" when they delivered the news to parents, adding: "It's absolutely heart-breaking."

She said she thought the closure could have at least been postponed to September.

She said: "Everywhere we have contacted to try and find a place have said they don't have anything until September, so what do we do for those four months in between?"

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: "We understand the concerns of parents and communities which could be affected by these proposals.

"Our Little Owls teams are happy to support parents to explore the availability of a place at another Little Owls nursery and we are engaging with parents on the potential of changes prior to any formal decision being made."

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