The long running campaign to save Salford Council's five OFSTED-rated outstanding nurseries looks like heading for its denouement. After huge protests last year by parents and staff, Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, backed down from closing them outright, guaranteeing their survival until September this year.*
In the meantime, the nurseries have been put out to tender for an educational institution to take them over, and that process finishes next Monday, after which a decision will be made to transfer or retain them.
Last night, at a Save Our Salford Nurseries campaign meeting, attended by the Mayor, councillors and a Children's Services officer, it was confirmed that funds are in place to ensure the nurseries remain open until April 2020.
"If no further funds can be made available after April 2020 and an alternative provider cannot be found, the nurseries could once again be at risk of closure" states Steven North, Salford City UNISON branch secretary, in a letter to campaign supporters.
"The risks of a transfer though do remain" he adds "The Council has built in certain safeguards within the tendering process, such as only embarking on an initial three year contract and ensuring that the new provider is an educational institution which would be expected to retain year round opening for children from 0-5, with trade union recognition for the staff and a commitment that no changes will be made to pay and terms and conditions. However, we know that none of these assurances are likely to provide absolute guarantees following the transfer."
The Council has agreed to meet with the campaign once a provider is identified, and, after that, the campaign will decide whether to accept any transfer to an alternative provider or continue to push for the nurseries to remain within Council control.
"UNISON will ensure that the views of the staff are integral to the process, but the campaign will ensure that parents and carers are part of that decision-making process" Steven North explains "The future of our nurseries affects all of us and the decision will be taken in line with the collective approach our campaign has taken on every decision so far. We would not even be in a position to consider these two options if we had not stuck together to fight so hard over the last twelve months..."
* For a full background see previous Salford Star articles...
Concern As Salford Council Nurseries Put Out To Tender – click here
Salford Council Wins Radio Ga Ga Award – click here
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