Objections to plans for closure of specialist nurseries

COUNCIL SAYS ITS PROPOSALS FOR MORE ALLOCATIONS AWAY FROM SPECIALISED UNITS WILL BE BETTER FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

- By TESS RUSHIN

STAFF and parents of children with special educational needs are fighting against council plans to shake up nursery provision.

One member of staff at a nursery Leicestershire County Council is proposing to close said “our specialist children will suffer significantly” should the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) plans become reality.

A petition entitled “Stop the closure of specialist preschool SEND settings” has also been created and is on its way towards 3,000 signatures.

Maria Twittey, who started the petition, said closing the centres would “deny children the opportunity to access specialised resources and trained staff who understand and cater to their unique developmental needs”.

However, Leicestershire County Council has said the proposals will in fact create more accessible and inclusive SEND nursery places.

The authority said the proposals, which are out for consultation, include the provision of extra funding for nursery places for children with additional needs in mainstream settings closer to home, rather than the four specialist nurseries.

These are Lift Beacon in Loughborough, Oasis Retreat in Melton Mowbray, and the Menphys sites at Wigston and Sketchley Hill, Burbage.

The council said some of the buildings would be repurposed to provide additional SEND places for statutory school-aged children and young people.