Staff who worked at York College Day Nursery, which was closed permanently following a tragic incident at the setting, have received the backing of Unison in their attempt to reverse the college's decision.
York College announced last month its decision not to re-open the nursery which had been closed since 17 September when the incident took place.
Three-year-old Lydia Bishop suffered serious injuries after becoming entangled in a rope on a slide in York College Nursery’s outdoor area on her first day at the setting.
The 26 members of staff have spoken of their dissatisfaction with the college’s decision not to re-open the nursery.
In a letter to York College principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw, Melanie Onn, Unison regional organiser for Yorkshire and Humber, said she feared that the proposal to close the nursery was a ‘knee-jerk reaction’, and would cause ‘least resistance to minimise potential negative publicity around the issue.’
‘Shutting the nursery seems to be an acceptance on the part of the college that all staff have behaved in an unacceptable manner.
‘While I personally and Unison as an organisation have enormous empathy for the family of the child involved, I strongly believe it is possible for the college to retain this facility while handling the situation sensitively.’
Ms Onn added that closing the setting would impact upon staff who could struggle to gain employment because of the stigma attached to the nursery.
‘I am most concerned to ensure that the working livelihoods of 26 members of staff at York College Nursery are taken into full consideration and that they are not unfortunate casualties of a hasty decision viewed at a time of tragic circumstances.’
Her letter also calls for a 30-day extension to the consultation as Unison believes that staff and parents received mixed messages, and the college only made one proposal which was to shut the nursery.
Parents are also in support of the nursery re-opening again and have set up a page on Facebook, YCN Parents, to campaign against the closure.
A spokesperson for York College said, ‘The work of the nursery staff was highly valued both in the college and the wider community and the proposal to close the nursery, will, in time, prove to be the right one and will remove any uncertainty for the staff, parents and children.
‘The college is faced with an on-going investigation by several agencies including the police, with a likely timescale of months and possibly years. There is no deadline by which the college can anticipate a defined outcome.
'It seemed only right, in light of the tragic circumstances leading to the initial closure, and in the best interests of all concerned to propose to close the nursery permanently so that parents could make necessary, timely and alternative arrangements for the provision of nursery care for their children. This was not a proposal based upon cost, neither was it an easy decision. However, the college is confident that the proposal is the right one to make for all concerned.’
Three-year-old Lydia Bishop suffered serious injuries after becoming entangled in a rope on a slide in York College Nursery’s outdoor area on her first day at the setting.
The 26 members of staff have spoken of their dissatisfaction with the college’s decision not to re-open the nursery.
In a letter to York College principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw, Melanie Onn, Unison regional organiser for Yorkshire and Humber, said she feared that the proposal to close the nursery was a ‘knee-jerk reaction’, and would cause ‘least resistance to minimise potential negative publicity around the issue.’
‘Shutting the nursery seems to be an acceptance on the part of the college that all staff have behaved in an unacceptable manner.
‘While I personally and Unison as an organisation have enormous empathy for the family of the child involved, I strongly believe it is possible for the college to retain this facility while handling the situation sensitively.’
Ms Onn added that closing the setting would impact upon staff who could struggle to gain employment because of the stigma attached to the nursery.
‘I am most concerned to ensure that the working livelihoods of 26 members of staff at York College Nursery are taken into full consideration and that they are not unfortunate casualties of a hasty decision viewed at a time of tragic circumstances.’
Her letter also calls for a 30-day extension to the consultation as Unison believes that staff and parents received mixed messages, and the college only made one proposal which was to shut the nursery.
Parents are also in support of the nursery re-opening again and have set up a page on Facebook, YCN Parents, to campaign against the closure.
A spokesperson for York College said, ‘The work of the nursery staff was highly valued both in the college and the wider community and the proposal to close the nursery, will, in time, prove to be the right one and will remove any uncertainty for the staff, parents and children.
‘The college is faced with an on-going investigation by several agencies including the police, with a likely timescale of months and possibly years. There is no deadline by which the college can anticipate a defined outcome.
'It seemed only right, in light of the tragic circumstances leading to the initial closure, and in the best interests of all concerned to propose to close the nursery permanently so that parents could make necessary, timely and alternative arrangements for the provision of nursery care for their children. This was not a proposal based upon cost, neither was it an easy decision. However, the college is confident that the proposal is the right one to make for all concerned.’