Closure of South Tyneside Council nurseries a major step backward

BASW England’s Children and Families Group say cuts like these can have consequences that extend well beyond childcare

BASW believes South Tyneside Council’s decision to close all 10 South Tyneside Accredited Network for Learning in the Early Years nurseries is a major step backward. 

It undermines the calls for increased investment in local authority and VCSE-run provisions, the very services that keep childcare accessible and community-led.  Potentially pushing families toward profit-driven alternatives risks handing control of early years care to a small handful of commercial providers. 

Lower income families and children with SEND will bear the brunt as affordable, specialised spaces disappear. Relying on private markets to fill this £1.1m funding shortfall risks leaving local families behind.

Commenting, Rick Hood (Co-Chair of BASW England’s Children and Families Group) said:

“Cuts like these can have consequences that extend well beyond childcare. 

"Affordable, accessible nursery provision helps parents to work and can provide an important source of stability and support for families. 

"Research shows that financial hardship is closely connected to greater involvement with children’s social care, including repeat referrals and child protection plans. 

"When services are withdrawn in ways that increase costs or make it harder for parents to work, there is a real risk of adding further pressure to families who are already struggling”