MP joins parents' fight to save nursery

More than 1,400 parents have signed a petition calling for a children's nursery to stay open.

Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) is consulting on the closure of its Collegiate Nursery, on Broomgrove Road, with a final decision expected in June.

Parents said they had not been given enough time to find alternative childcare and have enlisted the help of Sheffield Central MP Abtisam Mohamed.

The university said there has been falling attendance and rising costs and since 2020 the facility had recorded an operating loss of nearly £600,000.

Mohamed has requested an urgent meeting with the university about the nursery, which is open to the wider community as well as staff and students.

She said: "Closing the nursery is the wrong decision as it is still very much needed. Parents have had little time to find alternatives, many can't find places while others are facing lengthy waiting lists. It's clear this is a vital nursery for the community."

Parent Torsten Haensel said the petition showed the "strength of feeling".

"We need to do everything we can to save the nursery, not only did it receive an outstanding Ofsted rating in 2023 but there is demand particularly in this area.

"We have been contacting other nurseries but there aren't many places available. It is going to be hard to find spaces for all 39 children elsewhere.

"Closing the nursery will have a detrimental effect, it provides a vital service for Hallam and local communities."

The university said the decision was no reflection on the quality of care but was based on falling demand, ongoing financial challenges, and wider changes across the early years sector.

It said the number of children attending has declined from 52 to 39 and of those, 16 will be leaving at the new school year in 2026.

A spokesperson said: "Given the well-documented financial pressures facing universities across the sector, unfortunately this position is not sustainable.

"More broadly, smaller nurseries are increasingly facing challenges as larger providers expand, and demand for workplace-based provision has declined across the university sector."

Earlier this year SHU put forward plans for £27m of cuts on top of £60m of savings over the last two years.

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