PARENTS fearing closure of a local nursery have been told it will remain open until the end of the academic year, with a consultation pending.

A petition was launched by parents of HSDC Alton’s nursery after the college informed families the college had entered a 30-day consultation period with staff after HSDC had reviewed “the financial efficiency of the nursery and the financial impact of the global pandemic”.

Posting an update on the petition page – that now has more than 1,170 signatures – parent Jessica Anton confirmed they had met with representatives of HSDC via Microsoft Teams.

She said: “It was discovered the Alton branch of the nursery is actually turning over a profit.

“This caused a lot of confusion when our original letter proposing the closure claimed the college was having to ‘underwrite business costs’, none of which could be specified. When asked about the current, past and future costs, none could be given.”

A spokesperson for HSDC said: “Parents were informed at a recent meeting that, in terms of the direct costs of staffing versus income, there was a small operating surplus but this did not include the additional costs of running the nursery such as utilities, business rates, insurance, cleaning, etc.”

Ms Anton said parents were also concerned if the closure went ahead, alternative local nurseries would be full or not able to offer required hours, “especially with such little notice”.

But after a meeting between stakeholders and HSDC representatives, parents received a letter from the college’s vice principal of organisational development and people, Leona Berry, saying the nursery site would stay open to July 2021, with the original 30-day consultation extended.

She said the team wanted to “ensure there is a genuine consultation” so it would be extended to December 18 – with hopes of a final decision in the new year following “careful consideration of all options”.

She said: “We do recognise the need for some further analysis of the figures to be undertaken as agreed at the meeting.

“We hope this will help minimise any impact on the children and enable parents more time to find alternative provision should it be required.”

To view the updates and sign the petition, visit www.change.org/savehsdcnursery