Future for four nursery schools in Barnet remains uncertain

Recommendations were put to the children, education, libraries and safeguarding committee this evening regarding proposals for the future structure of four nursery schools in the borough which have qualified teaching staff.

The nursery schools - Moss Hall Nursery School, in Nether Street, Finchley, Brookhill Nursery School, in Brookhill Road, Barnet, St Margaret’s School, in Margaret Road, New Barnet, and Hampden Way Nursery School, in Hampden Way, Southgate - currently receive an annual subsidy through an underspend of the dedicated schools grant.

Proposals have been put forward by the council to merge the four, with a single management structure and governing body.

An online petition opposing the measure for Moss Hall has gathered more than 3,000 signatures.

Councillors voted to refer the matter to full council.

Labour Councillor Rebecca Challice, asked to refer the matter to full council, said: “Some of the nursery schools need more time. There have been petitions asking for the nursery schools to be saved. I feel it would be wrong to vote on the matter this evening.”

However, Conservative Councillor Reuben Thompstone, chairman of the committee, said it was “unnecessary”.

He said: “It’s my view that items that come have a good complement of members on board. I think it’s unnecessary to refer items up unless there’s a particularly good reason. It’s not something I would have done. It creates more uncertainty.”

A large number of people attended the meeting to support the nursery schools.

Stephen Levi-Kallin, who has a three-year-old at Moss Hall and lives in Woodside, said he was “glad” it went to full council, as he believes it gives a chance for the matter to be properly debated.

He added: “It’s sad when outstanding provision is cut, when all boroughs strive to provide it. To attack public services that are successful and outstanding doesn’t make sense to me. Most parents are very upset because they see the threat to their children’s education.”

Ruth Taylor, chairman of governors at St Margaret’s Nursery School, in Margaret Road, New Barnet, said: “The proposal is to amalgamate the schools. We were here because we were waiting to see the evidence it will be viable. We feel we need more detail about how this new provision will work.

“We’ve had three outstanding Ofsted inspections, and I’m concerned that the quality of education will be compromised. The evidence is there that teaching of early years has a huge impact.

“It needs to be deferred so we can get more information. It gives time for our questions to be answered. The brakes need to be put on."

It has not been decided which meeting of full council the matter will go to.