Leeds parents join together to fight planned closure of Little Owls nurseries

Hundreds of parents in Leeds are joining together to try and save a group of nurseries set to be closed by the council.

Three of the 24 Little Owls sites have been earmarked to close as early as May if council plans are agreed. For 12 others, the council is exploring the possibility of finding an alternative provider to run them.

Around 300 parents have now joined an online group set up to discuss how to fight the plans – saying they were inspired by campaigners’ recent success in Kirklees where families managed to stop the planned closure of two dementia care homes.

“One of the things that’s really annoyed us is there’s been no consultation with parents,” says Jon Wood, whose son goes to the Little Owls in Bramley.

“So we’re wanting to put pressure on the councillors to reverse this decision and at least engage in a period of discussion with us as the parents.

“My wife went back to work self-employed, and if my child wasn’t at nursery she wife would find no time to work. It would massively impact our income and we’re struggling enough as it is with times how they are.

“You know the Little Owls nurseries are mostly in or around deprived areas, people rely on them.”

Bramley is one of the 12 sites earmarked to explore an alternative provider, and Jon says it makes him nervous for what the future holds:

“Our main concern is that’s what they say this year… but next year those nurseries are going to be up for closure if they can’t find a provider to take them over.”

Another parent, Tannis Dalton, says she initially tried to get her son into the Gipton North site which is one of those set to close, but the waiting list was too long – showing the demand for the nurseries.

“This argument that there is provision in the local area, in reality that is not the case.

“I’m surprised they’re shutting these nurseries when there is such high demand in the local area.

“Especially at the moment with the increase in funded hours for two-year-olds, there’s not enough places as it is.”

The nurseries earmarked for potential closure by the end of May 2024 are:

• Kentmere

• Chapel Allerton

• Gipton North

The nurseries where the council are looking to ‘explore the market to see if another provider is willing to deliver additional daycare provision to replace the council delivery’:

• Shepherds Lane

• Meanwood

• St Mary’s Hunslet

• Hawksworth Wood

• City & Holbeck

• Parklands

• Quarry Mount

• Bramley

• Hunslet Rylestone

• Osmondthorpe

• Rothwell

• Burley Park

The settings that are set to stay unaffected:

• Chapeltown

• New Bewerley

• Little London

• Harehills

• Swarcliffe

• Seacroft

• Middleton Laurel Bank

• Two Willows

• Armley Moor

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “The proposals to review the council’s Little Owls nursery provision across the city were originally put before the council’s executive board in February.

“The initial outcome of this review has since identified three Little Owls nurseries from 24 which we are proposing to close in order to make important savings whilst also having the least impact on nursery provision across the city as a whole.

“We understand the concerns of parents and communities which could be affected by these proposals. Our Little Owls teams are happy to support parents to explore the availability of a place at another Little Owls nursery and the Family Information Service can also advise on other providers in the area.

“We are engaging with stakeholders and parents on the potential of changes prior to any formal decision being made and will remain in contact with parents throughout this process.”