Bairns Support Fellow Nursery

Sandy Kilpatrick • Published 19 May 2010 16:36 0 Comments

Mauchline Burns Bairns have offered their support to a fellow nursery which has lost its funding.

The council decided to end their partnership with Jacaranda Nursery in Coalhall at a Full Cabinet meeting at Shortlees Community Education Centre on April 21.

The Nursery owned by Karen Riozza has run for six years, employs eight members of staff and cares for up to forty children.

Last night (Tuesday May 18) Jacaranda Nursery held a public meeting to find a way forward for the Nursery.

And Minister for Children and Early Years MSP Adam Ingram will visit the facility this Friday (May 21).

Owner Ms Riozza says she regrets not fighting harder at the time the decision went to cabinet. She said: "This decision was a shock to us, it was a mistake not to take action sooner. We never believed the council would cut the funding. We're the only nursery that offers wrap-a-round care outside term time. It's a vital service to so many parents."

Coylton Mum, Angela Blair, who uses the Nursery blasted the funding cut as "outrageous".

Meanwhile Burns Bairns Campaingers were "over the moon" when councillors agreed to continue funding to their playgroup at the same meeting. The group organised paper and online petitions, held public meetings, attended councillors surgeries and gathered 617 members on their Facebook page.

Lorraine Schendel, Chairperson of Burns Bairns said: "Burns Bairns has full sympathy for Jacaranda as it was a very stressful time for our group and the parents involved with our campaign. We presented the cabinet with a full list of possible consequences should they approve East Ayrshire Council's proposal of budget cuts.

"If Jacaranda want a chance of securing funding they must give East Ayrshire Council and the Cabinet substantial reasons as to why funding should be continued. Burns Bairns were fortunate enough to have a positive decision on the day and all at the group would like to wish Jacaranda well in their campaign to secure funding."

East Ayrshire Council confirmed funding to Jacaranda Nursery had been cut as there were "adequate provisions of nursery care at Drongan".

Tweet

Post a comment

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Follow @cumnockchron

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.