River CC heard last night from the proprietor of First Steps Roslin Murdoch that her business which employs six people could face closure given the Council’s decision to withdraw funded places for children from her nursery. Highland Council had prepared a report looking at the costs of each service in Nairn, Rosebank, Millbank, First Steps and Junior World and concluded that there was “over-provision” and that the more expensive provision was First Steps. Roslin told the meeting that First Steps was the only nursery operating to full capacity. She disputed the costings from Highland Council and claimed that they had not included the cost of the “Nursery Cluster Teacher”, the amount she pays for the lease (£3,250) and the pension costs of Highland Council employees in their comparison calculations.
Roslin only received the report on the 28th of January although it had been issued to the schools in October. This information was backed by Liz who agreed First Steps had only been given the details at the last minute. Parents have so far gathered over a 1,000 signatures on a petition and Danny Alexander and MSP Dave Stewart have promised to rapidly seek answers on the information from Highland Council. Roslin is to also meet with Fergus Ewing this week.
Sandy was at the meeting and he offered to set up a “business” meeting between Mr Clifford Cook, the official with responsibility for the report. Mr Cook lives in Nairn but was unable to attend the meeting of 80 angry parents last Thursday although Liz and Laurie were in attendance and the official directly below Mr Cook. Roslin was happy to attend a business meeting but felt that Mr Cook should face the parents too.
It seems monstrously unfair Gurnites that First Steps did not see this report for over three months. During that time there could have been time for the nursery and parents to prepare a response and discussion could have been had at a slightly more relaxed place. Now a major campaign seeking answers is under way, drawing in MSPs and our MP. Meanwhile the nursery’s employees and the parents that use that service are in limbo – It shouldn’t have happened like this, everyone should have had more time to consider the report’s implications. Cuts will come yes and they may be brutal and even heart-breaking but there must be a fairer examination of all the facts by all parties before any decisions are made.