CROSBY & LITHERLAND
19 September 2018
www.champnews.com
Vol 25 l Issue 38
INSIDE THIS WEEK...
Children from the Sand Dunes Nursery get behind the campaign to save it from closure.
SAVE OUR NURSERY! Parents launch last-ditch bid to prevent closure of facility which offers ‘vital support’ to local children Report by Tom Martin PARENTS have launched a last-ditch attempt to save their children’s nursery school – by urging locals to get in touch with the council to persuade them to find a way to keep it open. As reported in the Champion, Sand Dunes Nursery School in Seaforth,is facing the axe in July 2019 due to financial problems and Sefton Council are holding a public consultation on the closure proposal.
A Parents Association Committee has been formed to help fight the plans and they are asking past pupils, staff and residents to express their concerns to the council and ask them to come up with a way to keep the school. Sand Dunes has around 60 children, some who have additional needs and may find it difficult to enrol in other schools. The consultation on the closure ends in just three weeks. A letter from the parents, which has been penned as an open appeal to the community, states: “The families that access Sand Dunes are currently very concerned that there will not be spaces available to cater for their children if it was to close and they are keen to make sure their children continue to receive the same high quality education and support.” It adds: “It is of utmost importance that people are aware of the effect that Sand Dunes not being a part of this vulnerable community is going to have. “Parents are concerned that the needs of these children will not be catered for in an alternative
setting and many parents have informed us that they chose Sand Dunes as they were turned away from other settings because of their child’s needs. “The children have a right to a high quality education and need the type of support that Sand Dunes offers to enable them to make progress to prepare themselves for a positive start to primary education.” Sand Dunes headteacher Hayley Stoba told the Champion: “We have lots of kids with additional needs who will find it difficult to find other schools in the area. “The parents are devastated but they are willing to fight until the very end. “It may be that it can’t be helped due to finances but there could be a way for the council to support us financially. “Hopefully lots of people can express their feelings on how vital our school is for the area.” Comments can be posted at the council website www.sefton.gov.uk/sanddunes until October 10. Staff at the school are also happy to copy any comments emailed to them at admin.sanddunesnursery@schools.sefton.gov.uk
CREATE Your Stor y...
Gang tried to steal safe in post office raid Focus
Homes on
Improve and enhance your living space
supplement inside
Apply online and start September. It’s time to Create Your Story! 0151 353 4444 hughbaird.ac.uk/apply
THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 164,303
CHAMPION SERIES
JAN-DEC 2017 100% FREE