Nursery Closure Will Put Increased Pressure On Places

Increased pressure on pre-school education in Moray looks likely following the announcement of the closure of yet another nursery in the area. Parents at the Cherry Tree, based at Elgin’s Dr Gray’s Hospital, have been told the facility – which caters for children up to the age of five – may have to close in June.

It comes close on the heels of a decision taken earlier this month by Moray Council to close five community centre-based playgroups in the local area. In total, about 100 children attending the council-run playgroups at Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Keith and Lossie mouth will be affected, although council officials pledged at the time that places will be found at other playgroups for the youngsters, in line with their obligation to offer every three and four-year-old a funded place in pre-school education.

In January, the independent Rosebrae School, near Spynie, also announced it would be closing in June after 40 years. About 70 children currently receive pre-primary and primary schooling at the rural school. The Cherry Tree can currently cater for up to 30 children and employs five members of staff.

At a meeting called by the charity’s board on Monday night, parents were told financial strains meant it was likely the last day for the establishment would be at the end of June. Parents were left stunned by the announcement and one said she would be deeply saddened if the Cherry Tree was to shut.

She said: “We were all shocked when we were told it may close this June. It’s an absolutely superb nursery. The quality of care is outstanding and my child is so happy there. I purposely put my child to a smaller nursery through choice and I just can’t believe it may close.” The woman, who asked not to be named, said parents spent nearly two hours trying to come up with ways to save the nursery at Monday’s meeting.

Although based at Dr Gray’s Hospital, NHS Grampian’s involvement is limited at the moment to leasing the building and land to the charity. Neil Ross, chairman for the nursery’s board of directors, said there was a “very strong likelihood” the Cherry Tree would have to close.

Mr Ross said: “We are looking at a number of options, and we’ve got a number of people to speak to, including the health board. But, if it did close, it would be this June.” He said greater competition from larger establishments in the Elgin area was a factor, as well as increased regulation and associated costs.

Although the nursery was set up at the hospital for staff and other members of the public, Mr Ross said very few health workers used it. Mr Ross said he believed that was primarily due to shift patterns and the financial difficulty of staffing a nursery for a small number of children early in the morning or into the evening.

“We are not meant to be making a profit,” he said. “But we do, as a charity, have to break even.” Mr Ross said the board would be looking at possibilities to ensure the retention of the nursery but he said the sad likelihood was that it may have to permanently close.