Future Uncertain for Vulnerable Children
The consultation for day nurseries advertised by the council to serve the most vulnerable children of our community began last Thursday. These nurseries are Mary Sambrook, Overland and John Smith; nurseries that have survived many decades in a borough with the highest child poverty rate in the UK. It seems strange that these nurseries should come up for consultation now. It’s 2017, The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has seen a growth in luxury retail and establishments that have brought locals a feeling of gentrification. Somehow this additional wealth in the borough does not seem to be reaching the children who need it most. I have attached the consultation below and hope for your vital input but please continue to read our argument against re-providing these nurseries.
Council Members Pay Rise 2nd Highest in London
We don’t think anyone would contest the Mayor has had a difficult job to do. £58 million is a huge sum of money to find savings for but why in the same year are we seeing the second highest increase in London in the number of council employees earning more than 100,000 per year? This same year our Mayor has decided that it’s necessary to re-provide the 3 day nurseries prioritising children with complex additional needs, child protection cases, families on job seekers allowance and income support.
What Changed their Minds?
When the previous mayor Lutfur Rahman attempted to close these nurseries in 2014 it was the Labour Party who stepped in to defend them saying the affects would be “devastating”. In this consultation it is being suggested that in order to protect Early Years in our borough and ensure these nurseries remain open the council will need to re-provide them and that a third sector or charity provider would be ideal. In Labour party meetings it has been mentioned there is no guarantee of finding a charity and that the 3 nurseries would go to tender meaning they could still be run for profit by a private firm. This comes at a time when 2 out of 5 nurseries are worried they will not be able to survive into the next year with the current under funded 30 hours scheme. The timing seems a little reckless and the council has already lost 3 maintained nurseries which no longer provide spaces for childcare at all.
Could money be found elsewhere?
Within the consultation the council is suggesting that if we don’t save £2.4m by disowning these nurseries it will mean an uncertain future for children’s centres and public nursery schools. Why is the Mayor spending £3.5m on an external consultation service contract with Grant Thorton Consortia on how best to run the council instead of working with the community? It has been proven that the best investment to improve social mobility is investment in early years. Social mobility for children’s futures but also with more mothers in employment there will be more money in council taxes. These savings seem short sighted and could actually cost more long term with an increased strain on social services, health and education.
Children with Disability
We have been reassured within this consultation that provision for children with disability will be maintained as a separate service provided by the council. As a mother with a child with additional needs who has seen the portage service disappear from local children’s centres I struggle to trust the longevity of this proposal. Along with the deaf unit at Overland, staff at these nurseries have been trained in medical procedures like catheterisation and nasal tube feeding. They conduct invaluable home visits to meet families with additional needs and help them to support their children. As 80% of the brain develops before the age of three, early intervention with family support is key for helping children with special needs a valuable opportunity to make developmental leaps.
Children in Child Protection cases
It is said the statistics of known cases of children in vulnerable circumstances are merely the tip of the iceberg. There are many cases that remain hidden. Children’s Centres, Public Nursery Schools and Public Day Nurseries are part of a network of professionals who can help our council identify children in threatening environments. Social care for children up and down this country is threatened and it’s not just Mayor Biggs who has been under fire. As much as we would like to redirect that fire to central government, £4.8m has had to be spent in our borough to make up for short comings in the way our children’s service was maintained. If the service had been properly maintained this might not have been necessary.
Children in Poverty
30 hours is not available if even one parent is unemployed and trying to find work. These nurseries charge no fees to parents on job seekers allowance or income support. The benefit to children is they are exposed to the EYFS program which has a great impact on our school system as children arrive more school ready. There is also a huge gap parents are expected to struggle through before their children reach the age of 3. It’s a challenging time financially for many and should be of great concern in a borough with 49% child poverty. Mary Sambrook, John Smith and Overland all restrict their fees to £145 pw which is very low in comparison to other nurseries. The consultation does not mention if in finding a new provider for these nurseries that fees will remain affordable for families on low income.
Labour Party Policy
At a recent Labour Party GC, members voted to protect these services and continue maintenance by the council. Our borough is a strong Labour Party constituency. People here support lifting children out of poverty. They are against privatisation and many came out in support of the 2017 Labour Party Manifesto which included more investment by government in Early Years.
I have taken some time to speak to staff who are passionate that these nurseries remain under council maintenance. They are frontline people who believe in what they do. Please support these nurseries by completing the below consultation and asking your Labour Council to rethink any plans to cut Early Years Services in Tower Hamlets.
