Fresh hope for under threat nurseries in Salford as government minister agrees to meet campaigners
It follows a number of demonstrations in Salford and London.
Last updated 15th May 2018
Representatives of the campaign to save Salford’s five local authority nurseries have been invited to meet the Education Secretary.
Following a 1000-strong march through Salford earlier this year and a successful meeting in the Palace of Westminster in April, campaigners have secured a meeting with the relevant Government Minister. It will take place on Wednesday 16th May.
Workers and parents who are fighting, alongside their trade union UNISON and Salford Mayor Paul Dennett are asking the Government to take two steps to guarantee the future of Salford’s five, Ofsted-rated outstanding, local authority nurseries:
- Support a reversal of changes to the Dedicated Schools Grant, which currently prevent Councils from spending all but a small percentage on directly delivered early years services.
- As an immediate step, allow Councils to access the £55m transitional funding that has been put in place to allow schools-based nurseries to manage those changes.
The nurseries were originally faced with closure this August, but after a 300-strong public meeting and discussions with parents and unions, Mayor Paul Dennett agreed to invest a further £1.5m to secure them until at least August 2019.
Campaigners say they will need Government help to secure the nurseries beyond that date.
Salford City UNISON Branch Secretary, Steve North: “This is a campaign that the people of Salford have rallied behind because they know how much it means to keep these nurseries open. Not just for the children and families who use them now, but for future generations. The changes to DSG funding are impacting other parts of the country and we have launched a national petition to highlight this. We are hoping Mr Zahawi will listen to our representatives and will take steps to support councils who want to ensure outstanding early years provision.”
The delegation to meet with Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Nadhim Zahawi will include Salford Mayor Paul Dennett, UNISON Officer Ameen Hadi, Val Worrall who works at Broughton Nursery, and Lee Shannon and Danielle Walker, whose children attend Broughton and Little Hulton nurseries respectively.
The meeting has been set up with the support of Salford MPs Rebecca Long-Bailey, Barbara Keeley and Graham Stringer.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP for Salford & Eccles and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: “I believe it is imperative to save these outstanding nurseries. The passion and dynamism of this campaign is a credit to those dedicated staff and parents who are fighting to keep them open.
"I welcome discussion with the Education Minister regarding the Dedicated Schools Grant and along with staff, parents and the City Mayor will be demanding that Local Authority Day Nurseries in Salford be made eligible for additional funding via the Maintained Nursery Schools resource.”