DESPERATE working parents are pleading with a school to bring back out of hours care for pupils after it was scrapped until next year due to “lack of space”.
Furious parents say the decision by leaders at West Leigh Infants School, Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh to delay the care until next spring leaves parents worrying about childcare as they return back to work.
But the school has raised safety concerns around the pandemic, and say it’s down to a lack of space.
A 39-year-old mum from Leigh, who has one child at the school, said it doesn’t make sense.
The parent who asked to remain anonymous said: “Despite obvious demand and the fact that it is safe to re-open from end of June this year, the school is hiding behind Covid, saying it isn’t safe to provide this.
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“They are ignoring the desperate pleas of working parents, who after next month are expected back in offices, and many of us are really worried about how we will be able to work without wrap around care.
“A parent started a poll to demonstrate demand and many of us have emailed the school and governor, pleading them to change their mind.
“We are baffled by the school’s decision.”
A spokesman for the school said: “The children’s and staff’s safety is paramount in any decision we make in school, it has especially been the case during this pandemic when we operate on a very cramped site.
“We have kept parents well informed as to why we cannot operate wrap around care at present.
“The matter was discussed by parents at our recent Parent Council in April and the reasons for the decision were explained fully.
“This is the latest information the parents have received from the school: “We still do not have sufficient suitable space in school to offer high quality wrap around care and keep groups separate because of the need to provide additional staff rooms and office areas, to allow staff to distance as still required by the government guidance.”
The spokesman added they will keep it under review and reinstate the service as soon as Government advice allows.
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