Final say on Goslings Nursery in Somerford to be made by Dorset County Council members

Goslings Nursery at Somerford Primary School has seen the number of children accessing the service drop over recent years, according to school leaders.

As a result, proposals to close the council-funded offering were put forward.

Senior councillors will now have the final say on closing the nursery at a meeting on Wednesday, May 2.

Funding of £30,000 per year for Goslings is provided from Somerford Primary School and the setting needs at least 30 children to attend in order to break even. The number of children on the January intake was 19, according to a report produced by the school.

However, concerned parents have objected to the closure.

The school says there is no guarantee numbers will increase in September and research suggests the demand from new families moving to the area is not as significant as some people believe.

A full consultation was carried out earlier this year by Somerford Primary School and discussions have taken place with Dorset County Council.

In a letter to John Stevens, chair of governors, and Helen Frampton, head of school, one parent says: “We feel strongly that Goslings should remain ‘open’ and continue to provide the high quality of pre-school education that many of our older children have enjoyed.

“Although there is a statutory procedure to follow, the closure of Goslings and the potential impact that this will have on our little girl’s confidence, as well as her education, has affected us greatly.”

A petition against closing Goslings, which is one of just four school nurseries in Dorset, has been signed by 134 people.

However, a report to Wednesday’s meeting of DCC’s cabinet, is recommending closure of the nursery.

The report by Nick Jarman, DCC’s director for children’s services, says: “The school has reviewed all the financial details pertaining to the nursery viability. They have researched further nursery availability in the area and have consulted with those settings in order to ensure that there is local provision.

“The local authority is satisfied that there is sufficient provision in the area. The closure of the nursery will ensure that the £30,000 per year cross subsidy from the Somerford Primary School will be used to deliver services to the statutory aged children for whom it is provided.”

When plans to close the nursery were first announced, parents told the Daily Echo that the offering had been a “God-send” and highlighted long waiting lists at other nurseries in the area.

Addressing this subject in an email sent in January 2018, Mrs Frampton said there were at least six Christchurch nurseries with spaces available and a further three that may also be able to support families in the coming months.