Campaign launched to save South Street Nursery

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South Street Nursery celebrates 80th birthday
Headteacher Jo Fenton, Mayor Surinder Biant, Parent Governor Sajjad Miah and Governor Sohida Banu

A campaign has been launched to save South Street Nursey from closure.

The campaign comes as councillors are to decide on a proposal to closing the nursery and replace it with a new nursery class at Heybrook Primary School.

It is understood that the Council has looked at the admission of four nursery schools across the borough, as part of a review into nurseries, as funding from the Early Years Single Funding Formula is directly related to the number of pupils. As of May 2015, the nursery had 105 children attending, but has a capacity of 160 part time places.

A report to councillors says: “Many of the children attending South Street Nursery are from families whose older siblings attend Heybrook CP School. The establishment of a nursery class at Heybrook CP could be a significant benefit to the community served by the primary school, because the majority of children and their families live in the area served by the school.

“Additional accommodation could be added to the building for nursery children. The children’s centre accommodation is subject to the wider review of early year’s provision in the Borough.

“The closure of South Street Nursery School and establishing a nursery class at Heybrook CP School would mean that nursery places can be provided in the most cost-effective manner.”

A petition has been set up asking local residents to save the nursery - so far the petition has received over 300 signatures.

The petition states: “In July 2016 Rochdale Council are planning on closing South Street Nursery School. South Street Nursery School has been recognised as an outstanding nursery for the past nine years. This is credit to the outstanding staff that have provided long standing service to the nursery school in a deprived area.

“Children enter South Street from starting points that are well below the national average and they make outstanding progress. The nursery school is a valued provider of education in the local community. Generations of families have chosen to bring their children to South Street and take great pride in the high standard of education that has been provided for 80 years.

“The nursery school is the only outstanding early year’s provider in the local area.”

To sign the petition, visit:

https://www.change.org/p/rochdale-local-authority-save-south-st-nursery 

A decision on the proposal will be made at a meeting of the Rochdale Township Committee on Wednesday 25 November.