Nursery World - Battle to save older nursery school lost

The long-running battle to save one of Lancaster's oldest maintained nursery schools came to a head last week, when the final decision was taken to close. Lancashire County Council confirmed that Greaves Park Nursery School will be replaced with a new amalgamated nursery school on the existing site of Willow Lane Nursery School, providing 80 part-time places along with a range of integrated services. A nursery class with 52 part-time places will also be developed at Bowerham Community Primary School. The new classes will operate from 1 September.

Lancashire County Council confirmed that Greaves Park Nursery School will be replaced with a new amalgamated nursery school on the existing site of Willow Lane Nursery School, providing 80 part-time places along with a range of integrated services. A nursery class with 52 part-time places will also be developed at Bowerham Community Primary School. The new classes will operate from 1 September.

The decision - made five years after the council first mooted that it might close down Greaves Park because of falling birth rates - has provoked outcry from disappointed locals, who have campaigned to save it.

Juliette Aide, a parent governor, said, 'Everyone is devastated. It's an old building but it has a wonderful "outdoor classroom" with a summer house, a boat and fantastic wildlife. These facilities cannot be matched in Lancaster.'

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