Petition launched against closure of Leeds nursery - as parents voice private company concerns

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The closure of a nursery in north Leeds would be “a great loss”, parents have said in a new petition.

The nursery, at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School, off Lidgett Lane, became the subject of a council consultation earlier this month when families were asked for their views on a proposed closure.

Parents were told that dwindling numbers and staffing costs were affecting the school’s budget, and that a permanent closure of the nursery provision was being considered from January 2025.

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A petition on the future of the nursery at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School was launched by Leeds City Council earlier this month. Photo: Tony Johnson.A petition on the future of the nursery at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School was launched by Leeds City Council earlier this month. Photo: Tony Johnson.
A petition on the future of the nursery at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School was launched by Leeds City Council earlier this month. Photo: Tony Johnson. | Tony Johnson

But just days after the consultation was launched, it emerged that there was another option on the table – a private company could take over.

That was communicated to parents in a letter from the headteacher, who explained that the school had already “negotiated highly competitive rates”.

However, it appeared this week that both proposals have attracted opposition – as nearly 100 people signed a petition against the plans.

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The petition, on Change.org, said: “We call on Leeds City Council and the school board to put a stop to this closure and replacement with a private provider.

“The council and school should demonstrate it has done as much as possible to explore other options to make the provision financially viable (if that is even the problem). We demand full transparency in their decision-making process and disclosure of all due diligence undertaken.”

The YEP reported earlier this month that some parents had been left confused by the information they had received from the council and the school.

They said that the consultation on the proposed closure was followed just days later by a letter from the headteacher detailing an alternative proposal for “new and enhanced provision”, with a private company who would “completely renovate” the nursery.

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The pre-school is currently run by the local education authority, but one parent told the YEP they feared that a private company taking over could mean an increase in costs.

In a statement shared on behalf of the school, a spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “The letter sent to parents was intended to be reassurance that something else could be available, and not an assumption about the final decision.”

Signatories to the petition argued that the closure of the nursery “would be a great loss for [the] community” and “a massive shame”. One supporter described it as “a fabulous early years educational setting with highly experienced staff”.

The consultation on the proposed closure finished on Monday (May 28) and a report on the plans is expected to go to an upcoming meeting of the council’s Executive Board.

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Meanwhile, the authority’s review of several Little Owls nurseries in the city is continuing. It was launched as part of the multi-million pound budget cuts that were approved earlier this year, with alternative provision being explored for 12 pre-schools.

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