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Bishop criticises nursery chiefs
THE Bishop of Edmonton Peter Wheatley and a head teacher have criticised Camden’s education authority for failing to back their bid to set up a nursery.
Annie Williams, head at St Silas Church of England primary school in Hartland Road, Kentish Town, has lobbied education officers to discuss using church land opposite her school, which has 207 pupils and a waiting list to get in, to establish a nursery.
But despite securing £100,000 of private sponsorship to renovate a church hall opposite her primary school, she has been told the Town Hall will not back her plans to offer nursery classes for up to 30 children.
She was told by council officers that the cash needed was not available – as it had already been spent on building an Early Years Centre in near-by Harmood Street. But Ms Williams said her school was desperate for a
nursery.
She said: “I am annoyed at the Town Hall. We simply haven’t had the support we need. Officers told me they did not think plans for a nursery at the school were worthwhile.”
Her bid is backed by the Bishop of London, Peter Wheatley. He said: “The school is excellent and should be expanded. We have an opportunity to do so and I find it strange that it has been turned down flat.”
A Town Hall spokesman said: “The local authority agreed to review the local demand for places once the new Harmood Street Children’s Centre had opened.” |
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