'Cry for help' as Huntly nursery given weeks to close
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MORE than 60 Huntly families are calling for help as privately-run Kiddie Winkles nursery will be closing suddenly at the end of this month.
One mum who contacted the Huntly Express anonymously said: "The care inspectorate has decided that the building they are in does not fit the ‘room to grow’ policy they have. They state children should be able to see out of windows and have access to get outdoors themselves. Based on not being able to do this they have noted the nursery can no longer continue to run after December 30.
"There is only one other nursery in the town and this has a waiting list that’s extremely long and hard to get into. The next nursery I can get my child to is Insch, despite living in Huntly. There is no support whatsoever to parents for this and I feel extremely let down by the system."
When the Care Inspectorate visited the nursery in the Linden Centre, Castle Street, Huntly, in July this year, it received good feedback stating that children "experienced nurturing care and support" and "children had fun and were engaged in their play". The report also said "staff were flexible, supported each other and worked well as a team".
However, the nursery was officially only in the Linden Centre on a temporary basis, with an arrangement to run from the location until December 30. After this date, the nursery must close.
Another parent, who is a local primary teacher contacted the HE "crying out for help on behalf of around 60 families".
The mother said: "There are numerous issues that have arisen, the first being that now Huntly has no wrap around care for children attending both the Gordon School Nursery and the Gordon Primary School. Kindergarten on the industrial estate don’t have the capacity to accommodate for any of the families, and now, without this care – many of us, myself included, won’t be able to work.
"I for example have a son with lung disease and need to know he’s getting appropriate registered care and not something informal. Many others feel the same and their little ones also have additional illnesses/requirements which mean they require a formal childcare setting.
"We are stuck and really need help and support. On looking into the situation further regarding local councils, I am aware that there should be a suitable wrap around care opportunity available for all those who require it in the community. Without this care many families will be unable to work leading to further deprivation and struggles. With the cost-of-living rising the way it is this is just not an option. This is also going to have a huge impact on the mental health of local families."
SNP Councillor for Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford, Gwyneth Petrie, commented on the distress this decision may cause families.
She said: "The decision from the Care Inspectorate absolutely defies belief. A closure of this nursery will be devastating for the town; for those who are employed there, for the families who rely on the service, and for the children who attend.
“The time scale they have given is completely unrealistic and will cause huge difficulty for many families – they now face a race against the clock to find alternative childcare, or make the impossible decision around whether they can continue to work. This simply isn’t acceptable.
“The four local Councillors have written jointly to the Care Inspectorate to express our concerns and request that they reconsider their decision, and I hope that they can see the harm that this would cause.”
MSP Alexander Burnett, of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, said: "It is bitterly disappointing that the Care Inspectorate have refused Kiddiewinkles application to make the Linden Centre their permanent premises. Kiddieiwnkles are an excellent family business that have provided exceptional levels of childcare for families in Huntly over the last 15 years. The Care Inspectorate should be praising Kiddiewinkles as an exemplar childcare business, not shutting it down."
