Nursery World - Long Read: Trying to hang on to nursery schools

The uncertain fate of five of Croydon's settings highlights a national trend that is casting doubt on the future of nursery schools and the provision they offer. By Catherine Gaunt

The iconic Coram Nursery School is under threat.

Five maintained nursery schools in the London borough of Croydon face closure or amalgamation after the council voted to a go ahead with a consultation to decide their fate, which is likely to take place from mid-September.

Meanwhile, as we reported in July, the iconic Thomas Coram Nursery School in London is facing closure because the charity that originally helped to set it up plans to double its rent and cut its provision in half.

As Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of Early Education highlights, nursery schools were once considered by ministers as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of early years for their high quality and inclusiveness, but there are now just 383 maintained nursery schools (MNS) left in England, and there has been a rise in the number under threat recently.

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