CEL (Community Education Lewisham) are proposing to close all creches in the adult education centres at the end of the current term. This would mean no on-site childcare provision at Kirkdale, Brockley Rise, Grove Park and Granville Park centres which in turn would prevent many parents and carers, who rely on the creche, from taking classes to further educate themselves from 2010.
According to CEL's official literature, they are in the process of "consulting with creche staff and relevant unions about the proposed closure" but in fact talking to staff directly and attending the Learner's Forum, it is apparent that it is not so much a consultation as a fait accompli.
The local press will run an article on the importance of maintaining creche provision in CEL centres and will be arranging a photo-call outside the Kirkdale centre in Sydenham on Wednesday 30 June at 12.10pm.
Please turn up with children under the age of 5 and show your support.
Thank you.
Stop the creche closure at adult education centres
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Chris Best
- Posts: 440
- Joined: 6 May 2005 11:37
- Location: Sydenham
I want to ensure that Lewisham residents have the opportunity to attend adult education classes in the future so I think it would be helpful to give a little background to the consultation on closing the crèche facilities.
In January of 2010 Community Education Lewisham (CEL) carried out a review of the on site crèche provision provided for learners and staff at 4 sites, Brockley Rise, Granville, Grove Park and Kirkdale as there are serious concerns about the overall cost of the provision given the anticipated year on year reduction in funding from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).
The findings of the review can be summarised as follows:
• There is low learner take up of crèche provision across CEL – only 4.6% of learners take up the offer of a crèche place.
• Grove Park and Kirkdale experience particularly low utilisation levels with some sessions now closed.
• 77% of crèche users are entitled to support from the SFA for crèche/childcare costs, only 39 crèche users contribute directly to the cost of the service – totalling £2,000 income in the last academic year.
• The subsidy required to continue to run a crèche at all 4 sites is £295,000 for the current year - funding is no longer provided for this purpose.
Given that the priority is to deliver a high quality learning offer to residents. it is proposed that CEL cease to provide learners with an onsite crèche facility and promote the new scheme called Free Childcare for Training and Learning. This supports adults (20+) by paying their childcare and travel costs while they are undertaking learning leading to work. The scheme is aimed at low income families where one parent is in work and the other parent is looking to enter learning or has a part time job.
This change means that those learners using the crèche who have a partner in some form of work - either paid or voluntary can now have support direct from SFA for OFSTED registered childcare of their choosing.
Single parents receive childcare support provided they meet the requirements of the Learner Support Fund – run through CEL (funding available for this year - £26,000), and the costs of their courses are also supported from within CEL budgets where eligible.
CEL is discussing childcare arrangements with all learners who access current provision and will provide additional learning support staff to provide advice and assistance in locating a suitable provider for the next academic year. CEL will signpost learners directly to their nearest provision, working jointly with the Early Years Service to support learners.
CEL have been working closely with Early Years on these proposals and will be locating ESOL classes at Children’s Centres throughout the Borough where space permits.
The closure of the CEL crèche facilities will free up much needed teaching accommodation at the Brockley Rise and Granville Centres in particular where teaching space is short. The additional space will also further enhance disabled access for learners and could be used as a base for learner support services. There is also the opportunity to use the additional self contained space for the use of full cost recovery courses.
Yes we are asking for views given the funding shortfall of nearly £300k - this is not a situation where raising the charges will cover the cost. I look forward to dj's proposals.
In January of 2010 Community Education Lewisham (CEL) carried out a review of the on site crèche provision provided for learners and staff at 4 sites, Brockley Rise, Granville, Grove Park and Kirkdale as there are serious concerns about the overall cost of the provision given the anticipated year on year reduction in funding from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).
The findings of the review can be summarised as follows:
• There is low learner take up of crèche provision across CEL – only 4.6% of learners take up the offer of a crèche place.
• Grove Park and Kirkdale experience particularly low utilisation levels with some sessions now closed.
• 77% of crèche users are entitled to support from the SFA for crèche/childcare costs, only 39 crèche users contribute directly to the cost of the service – totalling £2,000 income in the last academic year.
• The subsidy required to continue to run a crèche at all 4 sites is £295,000 for the current year - funding is no longer provided for this purpose.
Given that the priority is to deliver a high quality learning offer to residents. it is proposed that CEL cease to provide learners with an onsite crèche facility and promote the new scheme called Free Childcare for Training and Learning. This supports adults (20+) by paying their childcare and travel costs while they are undertaking learning leading to work. The scheme is aimed at low income families where one parent is in work and the other parent is looking to enter learning or has a part time job.
This change means that those learners using the crèche who have a partner in some form of work - either paid or voluntary can now have support direct from SFA for OFSTED registered childcare of their choosing.
Single parents receive childcare support provided they meet the requirements of the Learner Support Fund – run through CEL (funding available for this year - £26,000), and the costs of their courses are also supported from within CEL budgets where eligible.
CEL is discussing childcare arrangements with all learners who access current provision and will provide additional learning support staff to provide advice and assistance in locating a suitable provider for the next academic year. CEL will signpost learners directly to their nearest provision, working jointly with the Early Years Service to support learners.
CEL have been working closely with Early Years on these proposals and will be locating ESOL classes at Children’s Centres throughout the Borough where space permits.
The closure of the CEL crèche facilities will free up much needed teaching accommodation at the Brockley Rise and Granville Centres in particular where teaching space is short. The additional space will also further enhance disabled access for learners and could be used as a base for learner support services. There is also the opportunity to use the additional self contained space for the use of full cost recovery courses.
Yes we are asking for views given the funding shortfall of nearly £300k - this is not a situation where raising the charges will cover the cost. I look forward to dj's proposals.