A young mum says she is devastated by news that her son’s popular nursery is facing closure after being asked to leave by its church landlords.
St Leonard’s Day Nursery – which has been open for nearly 30 years – received notice of its impending eviction on 10 February, giving just 30 days’ notice to vacate the church premises.
The nursery has been open since September 1995 and is based at St Leonard’s Church on Everingham Road in Longley, but now the church council is ending its lease following what it has described as ‘stretched budgets’.
Manager, Lynne Cottam said: “We’re shocked that nobody has really communicated with us and it’s upsetting.”
The nursery has 43 children and caters for children between two and five, some who have special educational needs.
Ms Cottam said that the change would be “highly disruptive” especially to those due to attend primary school in September, noting that the lack of “continuity and familiar faces” could cause issues for children.
Sarah Bunting’s son Leo, aged two, has attended the nursery for three months and has a recent autism diagnosis.
Ms Bunting said: “He has got the best relationship with them, and I just feel devastated that someone is going to take that away from him.
“The staff have been just fantastic.”
Rebecca Reynolds, another parent, worries that due to the planned closure she may not be able to find a new nursery placement for her daughter as well as caring for her eight-month old.
Mrs Reynolds said: “It’s very worrying, the thought that potentially I may not be able to go back to work.”
There has been an outpouring of support for the nursery from the community, including a GoFundMe for legal costs and a petition to keep the nursery open.
Initially nursery staff made multiple attempts to contact the parochial church council (PCC) and the Diocese of Sheffield but said they had received no response.
On Monday, the diocese released a statement on behalf of the church reaffirming their intention to end their relationship with the nursery.
The diocese said: “After much consideration, the PCC has regretfully concluded that the informal relationship between the church and the nursery must now come to an end.”
It said the church had absorbed “substantial financial costs for utilities, services and repairs” and had tried to establish a formal agreement with the nursery but this had not been successful.
“The PCC has not taken this decision lightly, having actively sought an amicable solution over a number of years.”
The diocese has also given the nursery community hope for its future, adding: “The PCC remains open to further facilitated negotiation with the nursery owner during this period.”
