Leeds City Council has announced plans to privatize two nurseries previously managed by the council as part of its ongoing efforts to address a significant budget shortfall. Over the last year, we made the very difficult decision to close three Little Owls sites in Gipton, Seacroft and Chapel Allerton. This decision further prompted us to scout twelve alternative local nurseries for more sustainable management alternatives.
Out of the dozen sites evaluated, four were targeted for transfer over to the nearby local schools. Negotiations for the Little Owls Nursery in Hunslet—of which the Council is still a home owner—are ongoing. St Mary’s CE Primary School has expressed an interest in running the nursery. Plans for the three existing schools to eventually take over control of nurseries at Hawksworth Wood, Parklands and Quarry Mount never came to fruition either.
Further, two of our nurseries have soon been privatized and now run by private providers. Led by Sweet Peas Day Care and Teaching, one of them will be Rothwells nursery on Cornwall Crescent. Yet this small, niche organization has buoyed on the “good”—the second highest—rating from regulatory authorities, a testament to the quality of their services.
A spokesperson for the council stated that “the new providers would enter into a 10-year lease with the council, bringing in a combined potential rental income for both sites of £72,000 per year.” This action aims to reduce the financial burden on the council while generating more revenue. It secures the future provision of nursery services for local families.
The council is clearly willing to do what it takes to increase revenue. They plan to increase charges by 5% which will bring in an estimated £78,000 a year. In fact, a number of nurseries will continue to run with Leeds City Council as their new preferred operator. This extends to stops at Burley Park, City & Holbeck, Hunslet Rylestone, Osmandthorpe, Bramley and Meanwood.
Jon Wood, a parent whose son has attended Little Owls nursery for the last three years, is livid. Not surprisingly, he’s in strong opposition to the council’s decision. He described the transfer of remaining nurseries into private ownership as “absolute cultural vandalism,” reflecting concerns from some parents about the impact of privatization on community services.
As Leeds City Council works to address their existing overspending, the future of Sure Start services hangs in the balance. Parents and community members have been supporting the future of Little Owls Nursery in Hunslet St Mary’s. They continue to hope for more good news about its permanent status.
