The Council is currently consulting on closing Treetops Children's Centre nursery in Doyle Gardens, Willesden and Harmony Children's Centre nursery in Bridge Road, Neasden. In addition they propose to restructure the recently built and state of the art Willow Children's Centre in Chalkhill to make it mainly a nursery for children with special needs and disabilities.The closures would take place in March 2012.
Councillor Mary Arnold, Brent's lead member for children and families, told the Brent and Kilburn Times that this was a 'genuine consultation..we have to consider making difficult decisions and ways to prioritise funds for vulnerable children'. However the consultation paper (see below) seems to indicate that there are no viable alternatives to the proposals.
The definition of 'vulnerable' appears to be changing as the council faces cutting more and more services. Early intervention would indicate provision for economically deprived, ethic minority and refugee children. The proposals narrow this down to children with special educational needs and disability. Of course they need to be catered but so do other children in our deprived areas. Making the Willows mainly for such children raises issues about integration of such children into mainstream provision. (click on image to enlarge)
The full Council briefing for parents and carers is available HERE
The consultation is at www.brent.gov.uk/consultations
A Save Treetops and Harmony Nurseries Facebook page is HERE
Parents have set up a petition HERE
Councillor Mary Arnold, Brent's lead member for children and families, told the Brent and Kilburn Times that this was a 'genuine consultation..we have to consider making difficult decisions and ways to prioritise funds for vulnerable children'. However the consultation paper (see below) seems to indicate that there are no viable alternatives to the proposals.
The definition of 'vulnerable' appears to be changing as the council faces cutting more and more services. Early intervention would indicate provision for economically deprived, ethic minority and refugee children. The proposals narrow this down to children with special educational needs and disability. Of course they need to be catered but so do other children in our deprived areas. Making the Willows mainly for such children raises issues about integration of such children into mainstream provision. (click on image to enlarge)
The full Council briefing for parents and carers is available HERE
The consultation is at www.brent.gov.uk/consultations
A Save Treetops and Harmony Nurseries Facebook page is HERE
Parents have set up a petition HERE
