• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
13 July, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Staff ‘heartbroken’ after university closes last subsidised nursery

by Jo Wadsworth
Monday 26 Apr, 2021 at 2:43PM
A A
0
Staff ‘heartbroken’ after university closes last subsidised nursery


Staff at a university-run nursery threatened with closure say finding out it was closing was “a kick in the teeth”.

Eleven members of staff at the One World nursery in Moulsecoomb Place are set to lose their jobs as a result of the University of Brighton’s decision not to reopen it.

It has been closed since January after university bosses said it had to remain shut with the rest of campus despite other English nurseries staying open.

The closure comes less than a year after the university shut its other subsidised nursery, Phoenix nursery in Southover Street.

It said both nurseries were running at a huge loss – but staff at One World say they haven’t been given a chance to prove that a single site could break even.

Now, more than 700 people have signed a petition opposed to the plans.

Deputy manager Sarah Ottewell said: “It was really upsetting when we had to close in January and we have all been holding on and waiting for dates. They kept on being pushed back.

“Then we had a Microsoft Teams call saying that was the decision without consulting with us on possible ways forward. I sympathise with the university’s financial position but I feel so strongly about the service we offer.

“The bottom line is the children, but it’s more than that – it’s links with the community and other agencies around the city and with other departments – we’ve facilitated so much research here, it’s a very special place.

“Links with the community are really vital, day to day contact with the community and these families, who are overshadowed by the university now more than ever.

It’s heartbreaking and we wish that we had been given an opportunity to be financially viable.

“We do feel really hurt and upset. It feels like a kick in the teeth.”

Phoenix Nursery closed because of the pandemic in March 2020, and July its four staff were told it was closing permanently. Two decided to leave, and two were redeployed to One World.

The university says it is trying to redeploy the ten women and one man who work at One World, ten of whom work part-time, and it may also approach other local nurseries to see if they have vacancies.

A spokesman said: “One World has run at a financial loss for many years, losing an average of £83,000pa in the five years pre-pandemic. This deficit increased to over £140,000 in 2019/20 and was forecast to rise to around £170,000 in 2020/21.

“Only a small number of University staff and students have been using One World in recent years, with each user effectively subsidised at a cost of £4000pa even before the arrival of COVID-19. All users got their first 15 hours free and funded at a set rate by the government.”

The staff are being supported by the Unison union, which has raised a formal dispute with the university and plans to ask staff if they want to strike.

University of Brighton Unison branch secretary Ivan Bonsell said: “This knee-jerk decision is a terrible one. It will only save a few pounds, but would end a tradition of decades of dedicated childcare and early years education at the university.

“One World Nursery is a shining example of the university’s commitment to widen access to higher education by providing excellent quality childcare and early-years learning to students with young children.

“Higher education should be a possibility for everyone. One World Nursery is vital way of making that happen. We can’t afford for it to close.

“The university should think again, keep the nursery open and save jobs.”

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Inquest opens after baby dies in Brighton hospital just days after her birth

Water company brings in hosepipe ban after dry spring and heatwaves

Charlotte Tilbury opens new store in Brighton

Staff ‘heartbroken’ after university closes last subsidised nursery

Rough sleeper banned from station for playing piano

Bob Dylan to open UK tour in Brighton

Man jailed for betting shop robberies in Brighton and Hove

Boy, 15, seriously injured in sword attack

Brighton burglar jailed after £100,000 raid on jeweller

Plan to revive Preston Village given warm welcome by council

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Jessica Winter has ‘Got Something Good’ going on

Jessica Winter has ‘Got Something Good’ going on

13 July 2025
Palindrones headline a night of darkwave sounds in Brighton

Palindrones headline a night of darkwave sounds in Brighton

13 July 2025
Love Supreme Festival 2025: Day Two with Jacob Collier and friends

Love Supreme Festival 2025: Day Two with Jacob Collier and friends

13 July 2025
American post-punk band The Wants to play ‘Bastard’ set

American post-punk band The Wants to play ‘Bastard’ set

12 July 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Hampshire Hawks thwart Sussex Sharks in Blast

by Alex Smith - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
13 July 2025
0

Hampshire Hawks 171-4 (17.2 overs) Sussex Sharks 167-7 (20 overs) Hampshire Hawks win by six wickets James Vince hit the...

We have an awful lot of work to do, says Sussex coach

Sussex must up their game in T20, says disappointed Farbrace

by Alex Smith - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
11 July 2025
1

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said: “It is a hugely disappointing night. We haven’t been consistent in the last three...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Sussex Sharks flounder against Essex in T20 at Chelmsford

by Alex Smith - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
11 July 2025
0

Essex 148-4 (16.1 overs) Sussex Sharks 145 (18.2 overs) Sussex Sharks lost to Essex by six wickets Michael Pepper’s pyrotechnical...

Brighton and Hove Albion to receive freedom of the city

Brighton and Hove Albion sell winger to Sunderland for £21m

by Frank le Duc
10 July 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have sold international winger Simon Adingra to Sunderland in a deal reported to be worth about...

Load More
April 2021
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Mar   May »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Boy, 15, injured in sword attack 13 July 2025
  • Water company brings in hosepipe ban after dry spring 11 July 2025
  • Police officer spared prison after being caught with child porn 11 July 2025
  • Airline fined for flying puppy to Gatwick before it had rabies jab 10 July 2025
  • Cross-Channel ferry service to Dieppe at risk 9 July 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News