An online petition to save Hetton-le-Hole Nursery School from closure receives over 1,300 signatures

Sunderland City Council revealed plans in November last year to close Hetton-le-Hole Nursery School which have been met with anger by staff, parents and councillors.

Earlier this month, the council launched a public consultation on the matter which will run until February 14, to allow for concerned parents and residents to raise their views.

In an effort to raise awareness, James Ovington and his wife Emma from Easington Lane have set up an online petition – which has gained 1,359 signatures of support to keep the nursery, where their son Jenson goes, open.

James has explained to the Echo what impact it will have on the local community if the nursery was to close.

The 31-year-old said: “People from all different areas use the nursery, not just people from Hetton so it will have a massive impact on the local community if it closes – it would definitely be a big loss.

"We have nurseries closer to us but we opted to send Jenson there due to the services that they offer, especially for younger children under the age of two.

"There has already been enough upheaval due to the pandemic for the children who already go there and this will only create more.”

James also revealed his surprise at the amount of support that the petition has received.

He added: “We only expected something like a couple of hundred signatures from people that current use or have used the nursery in the past.

"So we were definitely surprised at the support that it has received, it made us realise that the wider community are also fighting to keep it open.”

Staff at the nursery, which which was graded “outstanding” in the most recent Ofsted inspection, have previously said that they are ‘extremely disappointed’ by the council’s closure plan.

Sunderland council have stated that ‘a new provision’, which will offer early years places, is proposed to be established at the new Hetton Primary School building to ensure there are no shortages.

If you wish to view and sign the petition to save the nursery, you can do so by clicking here.

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