TODDLERS face losing their nursery a week before Christmas as a cash-strapped college says it has to tighten its purse strings because of Covid.

HSDC runs the former Alton College and wants to close the nursery on the campus.

In a letter on October 21 to parents, the vice-principal for organisational development and people, Leona Berry, said HSDC had already entered a 30-day consultation period with staff, with HSDC having reviewed “the financial efficiency of the nursery and the financial impact of the global pandemic”.

She added: “Despite the nursery being of high quality, the college is having to underwrite business costs, which is not sustainable.

“As a result, it is with deep regret that the college is proposing to close the nursery with effect from December 18.

“Please note that this is a proposal at this stage and not a final decision.”

The letter added that the consultation, which ends on November 18, is intended to be a “two-way process” in which nursery staff could put forward “alternative proposals and suggestions”. A decision will be made by November 27.

Parent Jade Mason wrote back to Ms Berry, HSDC principal and chief executive Mike Gaston, and HSDC Alton head of campus Jon Myers.

She said: “Myself and my family find ourselves, along with many others, in a state of complete shock and disgust at receiving the information today that Alton College Nursery, which my one-year-old currently attends, is at certain risk of closure on December 18, leaving children and their families without top standard childcare – and dedicated staff members without employment – in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.

“After a 30-day consultation, citing ‘financial viability’ as an issue, the college will make its decision and in all probability close the nursery for good.

“Put simply, this cannot be allowed to happen.

“I take this opportunity to remind all concerned of the HSDC promises to its students, staff and community.

“The removal of the nursery will cause distrust and long-lasting repercussions to HSDC as well as the community.”

In her letter, Jade confirmed a petition had been launched in a bid to stop the closure, adding that the college had given “little to no time for a suitable solution to be drawn”.

To sign, see: https://www.change.org/p/hsdc-alton-college-save-alton-college-nursery?redirect=false

In response, HSDC assured the community that a decision on the future of the college’s nursery has “not been made”, having only “entered a period of consultation”.

In a statement, HSDC confirmed they had “faced increasing financial challenges”, and recognised their core business was providing “high-quality post-16 tertiary education”.

They said: “On a consolidated basis, our nursery provision for HSDC – two nurseries at Alton and South Downs campuses – incur trading losses even before assignment of indirect costs that a commercial private nursery would incur – building rental, service charges and investment.

“As part of consultation, we will be looking at all aspects including the business model to ascertain whether the provision can be protected, including utilising a private nursery operator. Many staff and parents have already come forward with suggestions to support the continuation of this valuable provision which we will of course evaluate through the consultation.”