SAVE BASFORD NURSERY CAMPAIGN – Protest at Basford Hall Campus, Stockhill Lane 3:45pm Wed 18th July No Show CEO Nottingham College CEO – a No Show at 16th July Public Meeting! At a public meeting organised by the Save Basford Hall Nursery Campaign to express its anger and disappointment that Nottingham College CEO John van de Laarschot did not attend a meeting of parents, students, staff, local councillors, trade unionists and other campaigners to explain the board's decision to close this vital community resource from 26th July, despite a commitment. In fact no representative of Nottingham College attended the meeting on Mon 16th July. Parents praised the provision of the nursery and expressed their confusion at this surplus making highly-rated nursery, that has been purpose-built (including child-size sinks). The nursery is due to be ripped up on 27th July 2018 without any proper consultation! Nursery places are still being advertised on the Nottingham College website! As one parent said of Mr Van de Laarschot: "he’s cutting a well-run nursery without any care for our kids or community... I'm 40 and trying to get a better education, and I feel better knowing that I can leave my daughter in the same building while I do that. What right does he have to threaten my education? They're killing people's education and futures" In addition the college have claimed that alternative childcare provision has been found for parents, but at least two parents at the meeting claimed that this is not true. Mr van de Laarschot has also stated that the college had no moral responsibility to provide a nursery, that it wasn’t part of the college’s ‘core business’. It’s this attitude which needs challenging, education as a business, student parents just pound signs! We had hoped these questions could be addressed by Mr van de Laarschot himself, but his no show left parents upset and angry. The meeting voted unanimously to continue the campaign. We have permission for a peaceful protest at the College Governors meeting on Wednesday July 18th July, 3.45pm at Basford Hall College.