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Campaigners at a recent event aimed at keeping the nursery open |
Student mums nursery set to close
After long campaign, it’s the end for lifeline childcare facility that allowed parents to go to uni
A Marylebone nursery that has been a lifeline for student parents juggling the demands of studying and looking after young children is to close.
Despite a long-running campaign by parents, politicians and residents, the University of Westminster has confirmed it will forge ahead with plans to close its Luxborough Street nursery at the end of December.
The popular facility offers around 40 places to the children of university staff and students, many of whom are young single mothers who need the nursery to allow them to gain higher education qualifications. Some have said the decision could mean dropping out of expensive courses to find alternative, less flexible childcare arrangements.
The decision – which will also see another nursery at the university’s Harrow campus close – will force eight staff out of work.
Mother-of-two Trine Maaetoft, who was one of a thousand people who added their names to a petition in support of the nursery, said: “We are so disappointed with the decision. It was such a wonderful nursery. The staff were great and my kids loved it.
“The sad thing is it really wouldn’t have taken much money to make it viable. I think the university didn’t really value it at all. Higher education should be available for young parents too. It is really hitting the wrong group of people.”
At one stage looking like a done deal, the nursery’s fate was prolonged when campaigners forced the university to extend the consultation period from the end of August by a further six weeks.
Staff developed a more cost-effective rescue plan, proposing a rise in fees, increasing the number of children from the surrounding area and an improvement in the “marketing” of the facility. Figures show both nurseries ran a at budget deficit of £141,000 in the last financial year.
Caroline Mainstone, registrar and secretary of the University of Westminster, said they could no longer afford to keep the nursery going.
She added: “We know how important nurseries are to families who use them. We have listened with sympathy to the opinions expressed during the consultation.
“This is a challenging time financially. Above all else the University’s role is to provide higher education to adult students, and we must conclude with deep regret that we cannot afford to run our own nurseries – particularly as the number of students using the service is so low.
“The alternative business plan proposed does not stand a realistic chance of success, and we have respected the wishes of our staff not to pursue the option of outsourcing.” |
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