A Bermondsey mum has pulled her child out of school over safety concerns one month after the nursery made thirteen staff members redundant.
Kintore Way Nursery School has been grappling with debt to the council since the pandemic, and the staff cuts were a last-resort attempt to balance the books.
Given its percentage of pupils with special educational needs (SEN), there were huge concerns over the safeguarding issues these staff cuts would cause – as it included the proposed loss of eleven support workers.
A campaign, led by Southwark UNISON, was fighting against the loss of jobs last year – but at a recent scrutiny commission meeting, Labour Cllr Chloe Tomlinson read an update from Kintore Way announcing that the redundancies had gone through.
Parents fear for SEN places as Bermondsey nursery plummets to nearly half a million in debt
Cllr Tomlinson said: “The team has been reduced by sixteen posts, thirteen redundancies.”
She explained that there is a reduced number of places for ages 3-5 so they have gone from 60 children per session per room to 39, adding: “and that has come with a much-reduced capacity to support children with SEN/D.”
Terrie Corby spoke to the News about her concerns over the children’s safety back in September when she first heard about the proposed staff cuts. Commenting on the impact the cuts have had, she said: “It’s been a shambles.
“I pulled my son out in December because of safety concerns.”
“The headteacher is lovely and she’s given me lots of support – I don’t blame her. This is directly because of the redundancies – but also a failure of the education system for special needs.”
Terrie said, after having him home this month he went back after being told she couldn’t just pull him out. “It’s hard because he loves it there, but I don’t think it’s going to work.”
Susan Catten, Schools Organiser at Southwark UNISON – who led the campaign to save jobs last year – commented on the ‘tragic loss’ of staff.
She said: “Make no mistake, the loss of 16 experienced and dedicated staff is a tragic loss to the Kintore Way community.”
She went on to say that Southwark Council has moved to address some of the financial issues that contributed to the nursery’s deficit in the first place. “For example, the rate for lunches has risen from £1.78 to £2.20 which is very welcome,” she explained.
“There has been a move towards developing a long overdue Early Years Special Educational Needs strategy in recognition of the particular place Kintore Way has in the local community,” Susan continued, “but the reality is that now, fewer children with special or complex needs who want a place at Kintore can be accommodated.”