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Nohad Al-Turki with her two sons who attend the nursery |
Student parents’ nursery axe fears
Undergraduates could be forced to leave courses if care facility run by university is closed
STUDENT parents whose children go to a Marylebone nursery have claimed they will have to drop out of university if proposals to shut the popular facility go through.
The parents, some of whom are in their teens and taking undergraduate courses at the University of Westminster which manages Marylebone Nursery, have called on the college’s chancellor to abort the closure that will affect 20 children and four nursery staff.
The university, which has run the nursery in Luxborough Street for more than 20 years so students with young children can pursue higher education, claims it is too costly to run. It will close by the end of September unless staff and parents can persuade the chancellor to mothball the plans.
Nuha Eltinay, 28, who has a three-year-old daughter, and a two-year-old son at the nursery said she was “devastated” by the closure threat, and would almost certainly have to quit her masters course in International Planning.
“I am completely devastated,” added Nuha. “Part of the reason I chose the University of Westminster was because of the nursery facilities. It means I can come in for lectures and drop them off. If it closes, I don’t think I could find anywhere else for them.”
Nohad Al-Turki, who has two sons at the nursery and is a former student at the university, said the facility had been a “life-saver”.
“My kids have had such a great time here, and that is largely down to the staff,” she added. “It’s been an absolute life-saver, and would be in the future for mums and dads who want to pursue their education.”
Staff are questioning the logic of closing a service at a time when universities are trying to reach out for more postgraduates and adult learners. They are mounting a campaign to save the nursery, thrashing out a business plan they hope will give them a stay of execution.
Interim manager Teresa Lorenzo said: “A lot of students depend on us. And not just students. We are also open for the local community and staff at the university.
“A lot of students will not be able to complete their courses, and future students will not be able to enrol. I really believe it is such an important service, and should be an asset to the university, something that makes it stand out and a reason why people choose it. I think it is very shortsighted to close us. In a way it is literally stopping people accessing their education.”
Marylebone has a desperate shortage of nursery places, a cause that has been taken up by Cities of Westminster and London MP Mark Field in parliament. Fees are low, ranging from £89 a week to £170 a week.
Barry Blinko, Unison branch secretary, said: “Closing the two nurseries [the nursery at the Harrow campus is also earmarked for closure] would only save around £141,000 a year at a time when the university is planning on spending £1m on upgrading a single reception area. We’re calling for an opportunity to sit down with management and look at new ways of generating income from a valuable facility that benefits students, staff and the wider community.’
In a statement, Westminster University said: “The report into the nurseries concluded that further investment will be required soon in addition to the current running costs.”
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