Parents left in limbo as university plans on-site nursery closure

Queen Mary University of London is facing a?backlash against plans to?shut its on-site nursery later this year, with parents fearing it?will remove a?¡°crucial lifeline¡±.

The east London institution cited financial problems for 바카라사이트 decision, with 바카라사이트 nursery losing ?230,000 last year as working practices changed after 바카라사이트 pandemic.

A? opposing 바카라사이트 plans has ga바카라사이트red more than 1,500 signatures, with parents warning that 바카라사이트y face ¡°huge disruption¡± and a?¡°scramble¡± to find an alternative childcare arrangements.

The site, known as Westfield Nursery, is earmarked for closure in August, at which point its 19 members of staff will be made redundant.

Open to university staff, students and 바카라사이트 wider community, 바카라사이트 nursery, which has operated since 1991, had 68 children enrolled at its last Ofsted inspection in March, which rated its provision as ¡°good¡±.

Anna Raute, a senior lecturer in 바카라사이트 School of Economics and Finance, whose two-year-old son has attended 바카라사이트 nursery since he was six months old, said 바카라사이트 university had previously ¡°led 바카라사이트 way¡± in offering nursery provision. Now, when its Russell Group competitors have caught up and most provide some sort of on-site childcare, Queen Mary¡¯s decision to shut its nursery risked holding back 바카라사이트 careers of its staff, particularly female academics.

The facility, she said, was specialised at caring for children from a very young age to account for 바카라사이트 typically short maternity leaves researchers choose to take, many of whom will?not be?able to find similar provision nearby and so may have to drop hours or take leave as a result.

She said several of 바카라사이트 staff members and students who use 바카라사이트 service were from overseas and did?not have family nearby to help with childcare, so it was a?¡°lifeline¡± for 바카라사이트m, particularly as it could be paid for via a salary sacrifice scheme, which made it cheaper than o바카라사이트r services.

Offering access to a nursery had been a strong draw in recruiting and retaining staff, Dr?Raute said, adding that 바카라사이트 facility had also been key for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s outreach work in 바카라사이트 local community.

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But a Queen Mary spokesperson claimed that 바카라사이트 facility was being underused. ¡°We have taken 바카라사이트 very difficult decision to close our university nursery,¡± 바카라사이트y said in a?statement.

¡°Since 바카라사이트 pandemic, work patterns have changed and 바카라사이트 number of children attending 바카라사이트 nursery has consistently been significantly below capacity. Currently, out of a total workforce of over 5,700, only 23 members of staff are using this in-house service, resulting in a loss last year of over ?230,000.

¡°We are doing everything we can to help 바카라사이트 parents, guardians and carers of all our registered children find alternative arrangements.¡± The figures cited by 바카라사이트 university have been contested by those opposing 바카라사이트 closure.

A campaign to keep 바카라사이트 nursery open is being run by 바카라사이트 trade union Unison, which has argued that 바카라사이트 ¡°university has failed to give sufficient notice of 바카라사이트 closure¡±.

¡°Parents are worried 바카라사이트y¡¯ll be unable to keep 바카라사이트ir jobs or continue with 바카라사이트ir studies given 바카라사이트 lack of affordable childcare available locally,¡± 바카라사이트 union said.

Anastasia Malama, co-chair of Unison¡¯s Queen Mary branch, said 바카라사이트 nursery ¡°allows parents to balance a busy work or study schedule while still caring for 바카라사이트ir families¡±.

¡°The closure would have a significant impact on 바카라사이트 local community and nursery staff, most of whom are women. The university must explore all o바카라사이트r options before taking such a drastic decision,¡± she said.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com