Croydon's LA maintained nursery schools (particularly Crosfield and Selhurst) are the gem of our local community’s childcare provision. We believe there are no other settings that give children the space, freedom and expert support to discover who they can be and what they can learn through play. They have been special places for decades and remain at the forefront of childcare through their stable, qualified and caring staff, expansive facilities and innovative approaches towards early education. 

On 28 June 2023, Croydon council's cabinet approved the recommendations of a proposal asking the cabinet to "agree to reduce the number of MNS within the borough via closure or amalgamation". This proposal could result in the closure of one or more of the five maintained nurseries in Croydon, including Crosfield and the one in Selhurst. We believe it is a scandalous abandonment of the council’s responsibilities to close down such sorely needed provision for young children. Pushing more children into private nurseries, or leaving many with no accessible option at all by closing local authority provision will be at the serious detriment to those children who thrive in the environment LA maintained nurseries offer and who, in smaller, enclosed spaces with less investment and provision, would struggle.

We know that investment in early years education sets children up for life. Conversely, a lack of investment can literally ruin lives, creating children who struggle but don’t know why, particularly children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). With the stress our schools are under because of lack of investment and a rise in challenging behaviour, why wouldn’t our council set children up for success in their early years? Extensive research agrees and previous government policy has recognised this fact. 

This proposal does not take into account the rare and important provision maintained nursery schools provide for children with SEND. They are exceptional in identifying and supporting children with special needs - the staff are exceptionally well qualified and experienced to do so. They also do it with kindness, warmth and insight. The many professionals who have worked with the practitioners across our nursery schools to provide specialist support, for example speech and language and other therapists, have all commented on how special maintained nursery schools are, particularly Crosfield and Selhurst, and are protesting themselves. 

These nursery schools, and Crosfield and Selhurst in particular, are in areas of high deprivation and take high proportions of children with SEND who would otherwise be unable to access early years education and support. 

We question whether the full legal process is being followed here. Has the decision to close one or more of the nursery schools already been made? We ask for an assurance that no nursery schools will be closed, but instead, that the council will show their commitment to our youngest learners through adequate funding and support for a sustainable future.

We ask that the council for once prioritises our children as more than just numbers and statistics, and reconsiders this proposal.