Council axes 'terrible' SEND nursery closure plan

Leicestershire County Council has axed controversial plans to close four specialist nurseries for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Reform UK-led authority consulted parents, carers and professionals, on proposals to shut four specialist nurseries and shift funding to provide places in mainstream provision.

However, on Friday, it said it had taken the proposals off the table after receiving more than 2,500 responses about them, mainly expressing concerns.

Opposition councillors have welcomed the withdrawal of the plans, describing them as "terrible".

More than 2,000 people also signed a petition against the proposals, which were condemned by parents and by local MPs.

The council said its plan had been to create more specialist provision closer to parents' homes and reduce long journeys for young children by moving provision into mainstream settings.

However, it will now continue to commission SEND places at Sketchley Hill Menphys Nursery School in Hinckley, Wigston Menphys Nursery School in Wigston, Oasis Retreat in Melton Mowbray, and Lift Beacon in Loughborough.

Council leader Dan Harrison, who previously apologised for the anxiety the proposal had caused parents, said: "Let me be clear – we heard the outpouring of concern loud and clear.

"It's hard not to be moved by the powerful feedback received.

"These young children desperately need our support.

"Our intention was not to cause worry but the first-hand accounts I've heard and read have left me in no doubt that halting plans is the right thing to do.

"We've listened to the responses and acted accordingly and that's the power of effective consultation."

Harrison thanked people who had responded during the consultation, which ended on Sunday.

Councillor Charles Pugsley, cabinet member for children and families, said: "Supporting children and families is the most important thing we do.

"After the wealth of emotive and impactful responses we've received, there's no way we can consider this as an option.

"I completely understand the concerns raised and I'm very grateful to people for taking the time to feed back."

Michael Mullaney, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on the council, said the SEND nurseries were vital facilities.

A Liberal Democrat motion to save the nurseries was approved by the county council last week, with Reform councillors abstaining rather than opposing it.

After the plans were scrapped, Mullaney said: "It's great that the nurseries' future is now secure.

"Parents and families were facing an agonised wait to see if these essential facilities would be kept open.

"Thank goodness the county council has listened to pressure and dropped these terrible proposals."

Deborah Taylor, the council's Conservative group opposition leader, hailed a "powerful community victory".

She said: "While the decision to halt plans affecting Leicestershire's four specialist nurseries is absolutely the right one, these proposals should never have been brought forward in the first place.

"The heartfelt and determined response from parents, carers, and professionals made it unmistakably clear how vital these settings are for local children."

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