‘let down’ as nursery is to close
PARENTS of children at a Market Rasen nursery say they feel let down by Lincolnshire County Council after being told the facility was to close this summer.
It was announced to the parents last week Racing Start Nursery would be closing on July 19.
“I am disappointed that this has been allowed to happen, as the council has been researching alternative premises for two years and kept our hopes up of finding a suitable location within the town centre, only to be informed that the council does not now have the funds for a new build,” said Laura Willoughby, who has two children at the nursery.
“I am very sad about this decision as the staff at the nursery are absolutely wonderful and cannot be praised enough.”
The county council has been working with Racing Start, a private child care provider, exploring alternative options for relocating the facility, but these have either not been possible or have not been financially viable.
One of the sites previously looked at by the authority for the nursery was land at De Aston Field, but this was blocked by the town council.
Nursery owner Nicky East confirmed Racing Start would be closing at the end of the summer term, but did not wish to comment further at this stage.
Despite this closure, however, Meredith Teasdale, assistant director of children’s services, said she is “confident there are sufficient childcare places in Market Rasen and surrounding area”.
“There will still be a wide range of childcare options to suit families’ needs,” she told the Mail.
“There are 108 daycare places, 57 childminder places, and 188 pre-school places, for 0 to five-year-olds, plus 154 breakfast club places, 198 after school places and 52 holiday club places for children of primary school-age. Among these, there will be sufficient vacancies to cope with further demands.
“We would like to thank the team of staff for providing high quality childcare to the Market Rasen community.
“We are working with the nursery to ensure parents are made aware of alternative child care providers in the area, including Town and Country Kiddies which has recently expanded their day care provision, and there are also childminders in the area.”
The council is also encouraging parents to contact the Family Information Service on 0800 195 1635 for further assistance.
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Weather for Market Rasen
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
