Reform councillors heckled by furious parents for shutting local nurseries

Reform were supposed to come into local government and deliver for working people and yet if anything, they’ve made their lives harder with council tax hikes, broken promises and closures of essential services.

It’s been revealed that South Tyneside Council, which is run by Reform, confirmed this week that it will close the publicly-run South Tyneside Accredited Network for Learning in the Early Years (Stanley’s) nurseries.

The BBC reports that the decision was made by councillors during a cabinet meeting at South Shields Town Hall during which shouts of “shame” were heard from the public gallery, where a number of nursery workers and parents had gathered.

“It’s really hard for working parents to get back to work and this just makes it even harder – it’s just devastating,” one parent told the BBC.

The closure of the 10 publicly run nurseries comes after a review was carried out by the council into local childcare services and it was recommended that the Stanley’s close by July 2027 because they were ‘no longer financially viable’ for the council.

South Tyneside Council’s lead member for children’s services, Michelle Fascione, said it had been a “horrendous” situation for decision-makers involved, but that the closures were the best option.

“The council unfortunately doesn’t have a statutory obligation to provide these nurseries and it’s been costing us £1.1m a year to subsidise and it’s not viable for the future,” she told the BBC.

Nonetheless that has left many parents disappointed and angry at the closures.

Rather than delivering for working families, Reform are making their lives harder.