SEND nursery proposals causing 'deep anxiety' - MPs

MPs have raised concerns about Leicestershire County Council's proposals to close four specialist nurseries for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Reform UK-led authority is running a consultation on plans to give extra funding to mainstream nurseries instead of commissioning specialist nursery places for children up to four years old with complex needs.

Conservative MPs Alberto Costa and Luke Evans said they had written to council leader Dan Harrison to say the plans had caused "deep anxiety" to parents whose children use the under-threat nurseries.

The pair said parents wanted more clarity and assurances over the proposals.

The county council said the move would allow families to access SEND provision in communities closer to home and that it would consider responses to the consutation before making ang final decisions

Costa and Evans have asked the council whether the proposals were driven by financial considerations and for evidence of any improved educational outcomes it expects.

They said they also wanted assurances there would be mitigation for parents should the nurseries close and whether the move represented a broader shift in SEND provision across all age groups, including potential future changes for primary and secondary school-aged children.

South Leicestershire MP Costa said: "The volume of correspondence from worried parents and families in South Leicestershire and across the county makes clear how important specialist early years SEND provision is.

"We need transparent answers from the Reform-led County Council on why these changes are proposed, what evidence supports them, and how vulnerable children and families will be protected if specialist nurseries are at risk of closing."

Evans, who represents Hinckley and Bosworth, said: "The Reform-led county council needs to bring parents and families with them when making changes.

"But the fact that so many in our community are raising similar questions means the council leadership need to get a grip and clearly explain what exactly is changing, and the reasons why."

The county council currently commissions SEND nursery places from three providers at four different locations:

• Sketchley Hill Menphys Nursery School in Hinckley
• Wigston Menphys Nursery School in Wigston
• Oasis Retreat in Melton Mowbray
• Lift Beacon in Loughborough

Under the proposed changes, these places would no long be commissioned, and instead there would be extra funding for mainstream nurseries.

This includes a new funding band of £10 per hour for children with complex needs, in addition to government-funded free hours entitlement for nursery provision.

However, more than 1,700 people have since signed a petition against the proposals.

It was started by 32-year-old Zenobia, who has two daughters with special educational needs.

Her eldest daughter, four-year-old Florence, previously attended Sketchley Hill Menphys Nursery School in Hinckley, which is affected by the planned closures.

Her youngest daughter, two-year-old Eloise, also has a place at Sketchley Hill.

The county council said it understood it was an "important issue" and encouraged people to share their experiences with the authority via the consultation, which will run until 22 February.

The council's cabinet member for children and families, Charles Pugsley, said: "It is important to stress that these proposals are not about saving money.

"All of the funding we currently spend on specialist placements would be reinvested into our planned new approach.

"Studies tell us that children thrive when they're supported close to home, which is why our plans focus on more specialist trained staff located locally in schools, rather than long distances from a child's home.

"We are expecting the government to lay out their plans for changes to SEND in their White Paper soon, and this is expected to be based around an inclusive mainstream system, with specialist support for children that need it."

"Responses will be considered before any final decision is made and timescales will depend on the overall outcome that is taken forward."

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