Cutbacks see Telford college axe its nursery

Budget cutbacks at a Shropshire college has led to its nursery being axed, leaving parents without childcare and seven staff out of a job, it was revealed today.

Telford College of Art and Technology will shut its Sticky Fingers nursery in August with the loss of jobs and more than 30 children without care in September.

Nursery staff, parents and children are said to be "distraught".

The news was broken to them by a letter from college bosses.

Janet Ellis, principal and chief executive at TCAT, said the service cut was because of a national reduction in educational funding.

A petition created yesterday calling for the nursery to remain has already received nearly 300 signatures from both staff and pupils.

Karen Hughes, from Madeley, set up the petition after finding out her three-year-old daughter Tiana will not have a nursery to go to in September.

Awful

The 30-year-old, who is studying an access to nursing course, said the atmosphere in the college was "awful" as students began to doubt if they could return to the Wellington campus.

Miss Hughes said: "The staff are taking it quite badly and everyone feels the same, it's awful. I'm willing to take it upon myself and fundraise to stop it going ahead.

"In September when courses start it's packed in here, everyone is just distraught.

"It's going to affect me massively because one of the main reasons I was going to come back was because my daughter has a good relationship with the staff, she is very upset."

Of the petition, Miss Hughes added: "I had 100 names in less than two hours, staff and parents have signed it.

"I want to make sure this is not being tossed aside."

However Mrs Ellis added that the situation was unavoidable.

"During these fiscally challenging times, the college will continue to provide outstanding education and training for its 16,000 learners but it unfortunately cannot continue to provide childcare on site.

"However it will continue to use the excellent childminders and local childcare centres in Telford and Wrekin, to support parents to continue with their studies."

The college has said that anyone concerned about the nursery closure can contact student services on (01952) 642295.

By Jason Lavan