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Parents' plea to save nurseries - PICTURES
SHEFFIELD parents packed a town hall meeting to plead with councillors to save their children's nurseries - saying hundreds of people would end up unemployed if they couldn't get affordable childcare.
Several poorer communities across the city have spent the past 25 years developing nurseries which offer cheap childcare.
But there are fears that community nurseries are being squeezed out by the new council network of children's centres.
Nurseries in areas like Tinsley, Darnall, Handsworth and the Manor have already lost funding as the government favours children's centres which also offer healthcare, advice on jobs and training and family support.
Community workers say if there is no low-price childcare available, hundreds of parents will have to quit their jobs.
Sally Firth, of Manor Community Children's Centre, which has collected 567 signatures, told a meeting of the full council: "We are the only provider of childcare on a deprived estate and without some sort of funding we cannot offer this much needed and valued service.
"We feel our service is helping to eradicate poverty. Without it, we will see an increase in levels of unemployment and parents claiming benefits."
Loretta Ledger, who presented a petition with more than 2,000 names from Tiddlywinks nursery at Arbourthorne, said: "We are facing a shortfall of 12,000 and if this happens, Tiddlywinks will have to close."
The council is holding an independent review into the future of the nurseries.
Coun Andrew Sangar, cabinet member for children's services, said: "We know these community nurseries do a very important job and are an important part of the community.
"Part of the mix of affordable, quality childcare will be provided by the voluntary community sector and we are setting out this review to make sure we know where we are going."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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