Council steps in to save charity-run nurseries
Fiona Simpson
Monday, December 16, 2019
Six nurseries forced to close after the charity that ran them went into liquidation have been reopened by Norfolk County Council.
The nurseries, formerly operated by Great Yarmouth Community Trust, reopened last week after the council set up a new company called NCC Nurseries Limited to run them.
Staff previously employed by the trust at these establishments have been offered jobs with the new company, the council said.
Parents should be able to access the same nursery provision hours their children were previously entitled to, it added.
Sarah Jones, director of commissioning, partnerships and resources for children’s services at the council, said: “We are really pleased to have played our part in bringing this nursery provision back for the Great Yarmouth community. We know it is a valued and key part of the community for children and parents.”
The affected nurseries are: Priory Day Nursery, Peggotty Nursery, Calthorpe Nursery, and Willow Day Nursery, all in Great Yarmouth, Seagulls Day Nursery in Gorleston and Filby Nursery.
Two other nurseries based in Suffolk but operated by the trust will remain closed.
Suffolk County Council said it has been working with the community and parents to minimise the impact of the closure of the nurseries.
A spokesman said: “We have been contacted by a number of families and have helped them to find alternate childcare where spaces are available. We are unaware of any families who have been unable to find alternate childcare. The council is covering the funding to the new provider, that had already been paid to the Great Yarmouth Community Trust and will now we assume be lost, so that the new provider can support the additional children."
“Officers in the early years team are also working with local childcare providers to promote any staff vacancies they may have with any staff seeking employment from these closures.”
