Closure threatens combined nursery

One of England's flagship nursery schools is fighting for its life after the local authority announced plans to close it.

The Maxilla Nursery School in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea has been told by the local authority that it intends to close the setting on 31 December. A public notice to close the 52-place nursery school published earlier this month said that all children currently attending it would be offered places 'as far as possible with parental preferences' in nursery classes and at another nursery school in the borough, 'where provision for the under-fives will be expanded, in line with Government policy'.

The nursery school, which opened in 1978 as part of a combined centre offering high-quality education and daycare to children aged nought to five in a poor part of the borough, is the only nursery school in the borough to provide free nursery education all year round, as well as extended daycare facilities for under-fives.

About two-thirds of its children have a first language other than English and receive free school meals, while a third of the children have special educational needs. Last month it was visited by Sure Start minister Catherine Ashton, who is also in charge of daycare and the early years in England.

In a written submission to the borough against the closure, Maxilla's headteacher and governing body pointed out that not only was it 'one of the first combined centres in the country' but that it also 'has a reputation which extends well beyond these shores' to Denmark, Japan and India. They added, 'The feature of Maxilla most often recognised for its outstanding learning opportunity by our visitors and community alike is the wonderful garden. Here we are able to offer a complete outdoor curriculum in surroundings unmatched by any other nursery facility in the borough.'

Jeremy Steel, chair of governors at the nursery school, said it seemed that in coming to its decision the local authority had 'moved the goalposts more times than Wembley'.

He added, 'This is an extraordinary decision to take at a time that the Government is looking at setting up similar settings across the country. Maxilla is a lifeline for the poorest families in a rich borough. We operate an extended year so the children can come in during the holidays and an extended day so that they can have their breakfast and tea here too. Many of the families are from overseas and the alternative of sending their children to nursery classes won't work at all.'

Jane Cole, an early years consultant in Croydon who is also chair of the Forum for Maintained Nursery Schools, said the situation facing Maxilla was part of a wider social malaise. 'Extraordinary contortions are going on in local authorities because of the cost of nursery schools,' she said.

'I have heard of extraordinary moves to remove headteachers. The DfES has made it clear at public meetings that it does not expect the children's centres to be led by headteachers. Local authorities want to have the money to open integrated childcare centres that they hope will offer the same outcomes for children as maintained nursery schools have proved to offer - but without a headteacher.

It's like young children seeing a practice nurse instead of a GP. 'Government policy is going to drive a lot of nursery schools out of business. Nursery schools don't easily fit into either the school or childcare centre frameworks but are somewhere in the middle.'

Objections to the closure of Maxilla Nursery School must be sent to the Head of Planning and Provision (Schools and Early Years), Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Room MO4, Isaac Newton Centre, 108a Lancaster Road, London W11 1QS by the end of June.