Over the past year or so, there have been many local press reports aboutuniversities and colleges closing their on-site nursery provision. Thisweek, we report on the three latest closures across the country (seeNews, page 3).
There is no doubt that operating a successful college nursery is noteasy, whether the college runs its own provision or contracts it out toa third party. The economics are tough, with a high level of subsidyneeded for students' fees, and requirements such as irregular hours orterm-time only. Some places usually need to be allocated to the publicfor a nursery to make commercial sense.
Local authority childcare assessments are highlighting the spare placesin nearby nurseries, giving another reason for colleges to opt out ofprovision.
Behind the numbers and logistics, however, lie the stories of studentswith young children who are struggling with college assignments,childcare and possibly part-time work too. Location, cost andflexibility are crucial factors in students being able to use childcaresettings to help them meet these demands.
The groups most affected by college nursery closures tend to be maturestudents, perhaps also lone parents, or teenagers with babies. In thesecircumstances, sticking with a college course can be really difficult,and any extra hardship such as losing a nursery place can tip thebalance into dropping out of college.
Yet these students need to be supported to carry on with training if theGovernment's aims to close the poverty gap and improve thequalifications of the workforce are to be met.
