Job loss warnings as seven Coventry nurseries ‘close next week’

Nurseries used by 150 children in Coventry will be closed by the council next week, a union has said. The move will make it harder for people to access vital education courses, Coventry Trade Union Council has warned.

But Coventry Council said it was launching a new scheme which it claimed would be fairer. According to the union, seven childcare services at adult education centers in the city will close on July 12.

The group also believes that with “just 2 weeks” of teaching left, parents have not been “officially” told by the board about the move. They claimed staff at the nursery were told early last year they would lose their jobs.

READ MORE

Coventry nursery where children ‘help out in the local community’

Coventry nursery issues warning over new recess policy it says is ‘disaster waiting to happen’

The union said nursery spaces are offered to parents who sign up for classes and cost £10 per term. Cutting services means vulnerable people in Coventry will find it harder to get courses that can help them get into work, higher education and out of poverty, they claim.

They are particularly concerned about the impact on people taking ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOL) courses, which include migrants and asylum seekers who face difficulties due to language barriers. The group added: “Coventry Trade Union Council expressed its deep concern after being told about the closure of the nurseries.

“They agree that this will very likely deprive some adults of valuable learning opportunities and deny them the chance to progress.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has contacted Coventry City Council for comment. A council spokesman said: “The adult education service is changing the way it operates its childcare services to enable a wider range of support for more learners across the city.

“At present, the Adult Education Service offers a nursery place to students who are parents on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to site and availability associated with their studies. Therefore, for some parents there are no facilities available and the arrangements do not provide access across the city.

“Under funding rules, learning organizations are required to support learners to identify and remove potential or perceived barriers. We meet with all current learners who are affected to ensure childcare insurance continues to meet their needs.

“The Service will implement an enhanced Discretionary Student Support Fund (DSLF). This will allow all learners to apply through a new process, which includes childcare payment funding for children who are looked after by a registered childminder, provider or childcare agency. with Ofsted.

“This process will further enable support to access the Government’s free places for the Early Years provision scheme, with options closer to the schools their siblings may already be attending. The fund would also support transport costs; trips, books and equipment costs; and support. with devices and connectivity for some residents, thereby providing a fairer scheme for learners to access funding to reduce barriers to learning.”

Sign up here for our daily newsletter for all the latest Coventry news.