Moray Council cuts to Lhanbryde Nursery hours criticised by parent
A short-notice cut to nursery hours has blindsided working parents and left them in a “very difficult position”, according to an anonymous parent.
Parents were told last week that Lhanbryde Nursery’s opening hours would be cut, and top-up hours withdrawn, with less than a week’s notice.
A letter from Moray Council also confirmed that the changes, in place since Monday, June 2, would remain in force for the rest of month.
One parent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the changes made for a “very difficult position for working parents to be put in”.
They added: “How do the council expect parents to arrange alternative arrangements within two working days?
“It's diabolical."
Most children at the facility, the parent claimed, receive their funded hours in the mornings with top up hours in the afternoons.
As a result, parents forced to collect their children at 12.45pm would be “left stranded for childcare”.
The Moray Council letter, signed by early years service manager Hazel Sly, revealed that the changes had been forced by “staffing vacancies and staff wellbeing”.
She said the measures will required to avoid the “complete closure” of the nursery.
“I realise that some of these alterations may pose challenges for yourself however we would ask for your support with this matter,” Ms Sly said.
“Given that we have a legislative requirement to ensure that families access up to 1140 hours of early learning and childcare we are trying to work with you to ensure we do not end up in a position where complete closure is required.
“We recognise that complete closure would have an even more significant impact on yourselves as service users.”
Since Monday, Lhanbryde Nursery's new hours run from 8.30am to 4pm between Monday and Thursday, and between 8.30am and 1pm on Fridays.
A spokesperson for Moray Council said: “We appreciate a short notice change to hours in any childcare setting is not ideal, particularly for working parents.
“However, we have strict requirements from Care Inspectorate to follow with regards to staffing numbers per number of children and that’s the requirement we’re struggling to meet just now at Lhanbryde due to unforeseen circumstances.
“We’re trying to accommodate parents as far as possible to ensure they can still receive the 1140 hours they’re entitled to while working within the parameters of staffing levels required.
“We don’t foresee this as a long-term issue and appreciate parents working with us as we navigate the next few weeks of disruption until we can resume our usual offering.”
