Nursery World - Protest march forces u-turn by Hounslow

Hounslow Council has dropped its plans to axe nursery nurse jobs in reception classes in the wake of a protest march in the west London borough attended by up to 3,000 people. So many people turned up for the march on 9 February that the start was delayed by 45 minutes because only two policewomen had been sent to cover it. The marchers, who included nursery nurses, parents and school governors, had to cool their heels until reinforcements arrived.

So many people turned up for the march on 9 February that the start was delayed by 45 minutes because only two policewomen had been sent to cover it. The marchers, who included nursery nurses, parents and school governors, had to cool their heels until reinforcements arrived.

Three days later Hounslow Council issued a statement saying its executive had agreed to 'withdraw proposals to reduce the number of nursery nurses in reception classes in favour of a reduction in growth to education budgets across all age ranges in schools'.

John Connelly, council leader, said it had 'listened to parents who told us they do not want any reduction in the quality of service for reception classes and under-fives'.

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