I have been concerned for some time about children’s rights to early education being breached for the 16 children using Valley Pre-School in Dollis Valley.
The community nursery has been told its home is to be demolished (to make way for the rebuilding of the estate), and must close at the Easter break, for good.
A commercial nursery has been offered the contract to provide a nursery for the estate, but that won’t open until the new academic year at the earliest.
Lawyers approached over the six-month void in vital education for a deprived community, believe that there are grounds for challenge, but they need paying. Which parent, entitled to legal aid, will bring the challenge? There aren’t many. Working people don’t qualify for legal aid (any more). Valley Pre-school’s parents work. Why? Because Valley Pre-School offers its parents whichever hours they need at rock-bottom prices. No commercial nursery will make that kind of offer, or do so affordably.
It looks as if it’s not only the children’s rights, but also adults’ ability to work that are in jeopardy.
A M Poppy
Green Party candidate in Chipping Barnet
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