Nursery World - Two more college nurseries close

Two nurseries are to close at Sheffield College amid falling demand for childcare places and Government funding cuts of 700,000.

The majority of staff at the Norton College and Fir Vale nurseries are to be redeployed to Hillsborough College and Sheffield City.

The nurseries are the latest in a long line of campus-based settings that have been earmarked for closure following budget cuts.

Jason Pepper, executive director of finance and resources at Sheffield College, said, 'The college cannot continue to subsidise these facilities in the current climate, so it is with regret that both nurseries will close from September 2010.'

Denise Bertuchi, assistant national officer at Unison, said, 'Education does not stop at the school gates and the impact will be felt by the community and the most vulnerable in society, which is ironic given David Cameron's promotion of the Big Society. We believe this is just the tip of the iceberg, as over the last week we have heard of at least ten colleges announcing closures. The biggest hit will be to low-paid women who may lose their livelihood or suffer a lack of childcare facilities.'

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included