Simon Danczuk backs campaign to save Rochdale nursery

Simon Danczuk with South Street Nursery pupils and headteacher Susan Lawton

Simon Danczuk is backing campaigners in their fight to save an "exemplary" Rochdale nursery.

The MP visited South Street Nursery, which is threatened with closure despite having been rated “outstanding” by Ofsted for each of the last nine years.

Rochdale Borough Council is considering proposals to shut down South Street and replace it with a new nursery class at Heybrook Primary School as part of a shake up of local services.

Mr Danczuk has written to the Council’s Director of Children’s Services to register his objection to the plan as part of a public consultation which closes on 3 December.

He said: “South Street Nursery has a long and proud history in Rochdale, it was opened in 1935 by Lady Astor, the first female MP to take her seat in the House of Commons.

“It is an exemplary nursery and is rightly rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted. It provides an invaluable service to the local community.

“We should be celebrating the fact that we have such a fantastic facility in our town instead of planning to shut it down.

“During my visit, staff told me how deeply concerned they are about the future. But they have my personal guarantee that I will do all I can to keep the doors of South Street Nursery open.”