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10/3/2009Lack of Merrylee signage at new school fuels merger fears

BAD SIGN: the new school grounds have no signs for Merrylee Nursery

By Eva Stalker: CHILDREN arrived for their first nursery day in a new building to find no mention of their nursery's name on the official signposts, fuelling fears it is due to vanish under controversial council proposals.

Both the Merrylee and Holmlea nurseries began, operating in the new Primary School building this Tuesday, but the only signs were for the Lime Tree Day Nursery - the new name for Holmlea, which is pegged to survive if a proposed merger of the nurseries goes ahead.

Jill Ledgerwood, whose son attends Merrylee Nursery, said: "There are absolutely no signs for Merrylee Nursery Class anywhere and we feel this is a sure sign that it is a done deal and the consultation is a farce.

"Parents arriving to drop off their children this morning were very confused as to where to go because of lack of signage for Merrylee Nursery Class. The children went in through a door signed Lime Tree Day Nursery. Where is the consultation in that?"

The lack of signage is another blow for, parents of children at Merrylee Nursery,who fear the merger may harm their children's education.

While Merrylee parents praised the 8am-to-6pm service offered by Lime Tree, they point out the routine of Merrylee Nursery, which runs structured sessions of two-and-a-half hours, would be disturbed by the constant activity of a full-day service.

Ruairidh MacKenzie, 38, head of the Save Merrylee Nursery campaign, said: "They rub their hands with glee about the revenue and don't care about the children's education. It looks like a foregone conclusion."

The campaign, which has about 70 members, is also concerned that the proposals abolish provision of a direct feeder nursery into Merrylee Primary, will lead to longer waiting lists and may lead to pressure for parents to extend their children's nursery hours.

Speaking about the signage discovered at the new Friarton Road building on Tuesday morning, Councillor James Dornan, SNP leader of the opposition at Glasgow City Council, said: "This is unacceptable. This is, once again, the Labour executive being arrogant and it shows clearly these proposals are a done deal.

< "The decision has already been made in the minds of the Labour executive in the council. I believe they have to scrap these proposals."

The nursery merger proposals are part of a city-wide Education Estate Strategy by the council which includes the possible closure of 13 primary schools and 12 nurseries.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said the proposals were still out for consultation and urged parents to put any objections forward for the consultation process, which concludes on Wednesday, March 18.

www.savemerryleenursery.org/

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Merrylee children point out the problem

MERRYLEE: Children enjoying their first day in the new building