Thomas Coram Nursery School in Camden is under threat from the UK's oldest children's charity

We are the only state nursery school in Camden, with 150 places for local children. We provide high quality early years education in one of the most diverse and economically challenged parts of the borough. Many children receive our specialised SEND support. Consistently rated Outstanding by Ofsted, the school is a beacon of good practice locally and nationally.

Coram, the charity that founded our nursery, wants to double our current rent. Within 3 years the rent they want to charge will be over £240,000 a year. This does not include service charges, which are currently £108,000 a year. We simply cannot afford such an increase. Coram also want to reduce the space we use. This alone would make it impossible for us to continue, because of the loss of income. 

Coram told the Guardian that the charity “greatly values the Thomas Coram nursery school and wants nothing more than for it to continue to serve local children…”. This means nothing if the rent is unaffordable. We shouldn’t be compared to the rent for an office – and what better use of our purpose-built facilities and beautiful garden could there be, than for local children?

Please sign this petition to secure the future of this nursery school in our rightful home on the Coram site, where we have always been. 

We urgently ask the Coram trustees to reconsider their position. They can choose to avert a terrible wrong.