Hay to raise nursery crisis with minister

DUP MLA Willie Hay says he will seek a meeting with Education Minister John O’Dowd over a shortfall in nursery school places in Londonderry after Western Education and Library Board (WELB) boss Robert Thompson revealed 102 pre-school children were denied first choice places next year and that 39 children remain unplaced today.

He said the party’s constituency office has seen a growing number of children being denied places - sometimes at nurseries on the same streets on which they live - due to the shortage.

Mr Hay said: “I know WELB are trying to address it but we are getting lots of parents who can’t get nursing places for their children, even those living just across the road from some of the schools.”

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Mr Hay made the comments after writing to WELB Chief Executive Barry Mulholland on behalf of one constituent who was unable to secure a place at either the Ebrington, Ashlea or Lisnagelvin nursery units.

WELB’s Head of Transfer and Open Enrolment Robert Thompson replied to Mr Hay on Monday and revealed that across Londonderry 102 “Final Age Pre-School children were unplaced at the end of Stage 1 (April 1, 2011).”

Fifty-eight subsequently secured Pre-School places in Stage 2 but six children whose parents gave additional preferences remained unplaced, as did 39 unplaced at stage 1 whose parents gave no additional preferences.

Mr Hay said he accepted WELB’s difficulties but stressed he would be seeking a meeting with the Education Minister to discuss the problem and suggest a reappraisal of the current formula for deciding placements.

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“It’s causing a great deal of disappointment,” said the Foyle MLA.

People know where they want their children to go and are very much voting with their feet.”

But they are being asked to go maybe three or four miles to other nurseries were places are available and it’s not acceptable.”