Mum calls for ‘pop-up nursery’ to cope with demand for places

Mum calls for ‘pop-up nursery’ to cope with demand for places

27 April 2016

EDUCATION officials should establish a ‘pop-up nursery’ in Downpatrick to cater for children without a place for September, a disappointed mum has warned.

Karen McFall is angry that her child has been denied a nursery school place, despite having additional needs.

Three year-old Jena McFall is one of 159 local children not yet granted a nursery place for September after parents were denied their top choices.

Karen was shocked to receive a letter from education officials last week confirming that her application to Downpatrick nursery schools for had been unsuccessful.

She said the news was particularly hard to accept as she had also been unable to secure a place for her other daughter, Mya, four years ago.

Perplexed that she has been “unlucky” twice, Karen said she was disgusted that government criteria put working families at a disadvantage.

She said the Department of Education’s explanation that it prioritised children of unemployed parents or those in pursuit of income support demonstrated a contempt for children of working parents.

“That statement is saying to me that children of parents who go out to work are not as important. What about equality and inclusion?” she said.

“That statement basically says children whose parents do not come from a socially disadvantaged background are not important.

“The reason I am so surprised about Jena is that she has additional needs and has attended speech therapy, which shows that she really needs nursery school. I thought she would get a place because of those needs.”

Karen said she believed resources should be used to create a temporary or pop-up nursery school for the dozens of children who have not yet been allocated a place.

If that does not happen, she said she will be forced to accept a place miles away for Jena, which she said was very inconvenient to her as a working mum.

“There are places in Crossgar, Ballykinlar and Killough but that would involve asking my parents or childminder to drive her that distance, which is a lot to ask.

“This is a very stressful position to be in as a parent and has left us in a quandary. We want to make sure that Jena gets the best start, but feel like we are facing unnecessary hurdles.”

Karen said she had lodged an appeal with the education authority and was hoping a place would be found.