Greens accuse Lambeth Labour of choosing politics over people in nursery shambles

Lambeth council announced consultations on the potential closures of Effra, Triangle and Maytree nurseries in January. There had been no prior consultation with the nursery leadership, staff or parents.

Then in March, the Labour-run council announced it was withdrawing the consultations. It said this was due to new government proposals changing the “national policy and funding landscape”.

But local Greens say this is an “embarrassing u-turn” for Labour, even though it provides some respite for families and staff. They argue that continuing uncertainty over the future of the nurseries is leaving people “in limbo”.

Since the March announcement, nursery staff, green councillors and even a local Labour MP have tried and failed to engage with the council. So far it has refused meetings and blocked requests for information.

A petition launched by local parents calling for an end to the consultations had gained over 1,000 signatures. However, the Greens, along with other local campaigners, have criticised Labour. They say the ruling party is cynically putting off difficult decisions until after the May elections.

Lambeth Labour claims

Lambeth Labour claims the potential closures are due to a 38% drop in pupil numbers caused by falling birthrates and families leaving the borough, leading to a substantial budget deficit. However, there are still waiting lists for the nurseries, so these numbers do not reflect the full reality.

However, the Lambeth Nursery School Federation, which runs the three nurseries marked for closure, has said the council’s approach of three separate consultations on closures would not solve the issues facing the nurseries even if all three closed.

Senior nursery staff provided detailed proposals for restructures that could ease financial pressures back in November, but Labour ignored these. Parents are calling for a working group which includes staff, unions and parents to shape the future of the nurseries.

The Federation also highlighted that the council’s figures were different to its own. The council consultations stated the monthly deficit was £450,000 whereas its figures were far less at £101,000. The consultations conflated historic deficits and projected deficits, among other inconsistencies.

The decision to withdraw the consultations is a victory for local campaigners. But senior staff at the nurseries have said it is only a temporary one.

The Greens are demanding that, when decisions are made about the future of the nurseries, Lambeth Labour listens to parents, staff and nurseries, and “puts families first”.

Meanwhile, parents and staff remain in a state of anxiety and uncertainty about the future of the nurseries they rely on.

Paul Valentine, Green Party councillor for Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction, said:

This has been a shambles from the very start when Labour ambushed parents and staff by launching these consultations with no prior consultation. Labour have blocked all attempts at meaningful engagement from the nurseries, parents, unions and councillors.

Now, facing a furious backlash, they’ve been forced into an embarrassing u-turn. It’s a great relief to parents, but only a temporary reprieve. The future of the nurseries still isn’t clear and families remain in limbo while Labour prioritises doing damage control ahead of the elections in May.

These nurseries are loved by the community and provide irreplaceable specialist early years teaching. Yet Labour are treating them, along with the families who rely on them, with complete contempt. When it comes to deciding a way forward, Labour must learn from their mistakes and listen to the nurseries.

This mess perfectly sums up the defensive, unaccountable culture Labour have cultivated in Lambeth in the past 20 years. In May, Lambeth can vote Green and choose a new way of doing things.

Sarah Ahmed, a parent at Effra Nursery, said:

Effra, Triangle and Maytree nurseries are a lifeline for so many families. The experience and care of the staff, and the provision for SEND, are irreplaceable. We know the council stopped the consultation process because of parents and staff organising against it.

The consultations were inaccessible and full of misleading information. The council saw an opportunity to stop them using the new government’s additional funding for SEN as an excuse, but we know the real reason is they knew it would cost them seats at the local elections.

The community is determined to keep fighting against the closures. We know this is just a delay tactic and we want to make sure that whoever gets in will fight to keep those amazing nurseries and children centres open for the sake of our children and communities. We are sick and tired of Lambeth council and its cuts affecting the most disadvantaged in our communities.

The council should be fighting for us. We are grateful for the support we have received on this issue from Helen Hayes and from Green councillors. We will be approaching all prospective candidates ahead of the elections demanding that they commit to keeping the nurseries open and protecting the staff’s jobs and our children’s education.

Featured image via the Canary