Key Vote on Nursery Closure Clashes With England Match
Proposal made to suspend Council meeting until end of game vs Croatia
Wandsworth Council take a vote in June to proceed with closure plan
The vote which will decide the future of the Siward Road Specialist Nursery in Earlsfield is to be held at a Council meeting this Wednesday evening (11 July). The meeting clashes with the World Cup game between England and Croatia and a motion is to be submitted to suspend proceedings during the second half of the game.
The Labour Party will be opposing the closure which will take place at the end of July if the motion is approved. They are hoping to persuade some Conservative councillors to vote with them to save the facility.
The meeting is due to start at 7.30pm, half an hour after the game begins. This will allow most of the first half of the game to be viewed. It is then being proposed that the meeting is suspended for the second half of the game with the end scheduled for 10.30pm. It is not known what the arrangements will be if the game goes to extra time and penalties.
The Council argue that the directly managed nursery for children with social and communication
difficulties and complex needs operating at Siward Road Early Years Centre was set up at a time when few mainstream providers catered for nursery age children with disabilities and local special schools’ offer to younger children and their capacity was less well developed.
Labour have criticised the decision saying it was announced shortly after the election as part of a reduction in funding of £1 million to Early Years education in the borough.
Zenaba Fozari-Hamid, whose son attends the nursery came to the Town Hall after the planned closure was announced to speak about how important the facility was for him. She said, “His speech has improved remarkably & he’s received the right support, care and love... We shouldn’t close this service, the council should listen.”
July 11, 2018