Nursery school may close

ONE of Uckfield's most popular nursery schools may have to close because the elderly Roman Catholic sisters who run it are to retire. And it could leave the town with a shortage of nursery places.

St Michael's Nursery, in New Town, has been run by the Sisters of Mercy since it was opened in 1966. However, the order's three local nuns - Sister Lucy, Sister Anastasia and Sister Barbara - are to move from the convent because it has become too big for them. Unless a buyer can be found to take over running of the nursery next door, it could close in July.

Parents were told the news this week.

In a letter, chair of trustees Sister Maria Goretti said the sisters had spent six months trying to find a suitable buyer but without success. She said: 'It is with great sadness that the Sisters of Mercy have to inform you that St Michael's Nursery may have to close in July.

'For the past six months, the sisters have been investigating avenues through which the nursery might continue into the future, since the sisters are beyond the normal retirement age. Discussions have taken place with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, and the Parish of St Philip Neri, as well as with private buyers. Sadly, these discussions have failed to provide a viable solution for the continuance of the nursery.

'The sisters and staff are devastated, having provided high quality childcare since the nursery opened in 1966. However, having exhausted all possibilities, they have reluctantly accepted that closure is the only course of action open to them in the absence of any tangible alternative.'

The nursery's business manager, William Swabey, said: 'We wanted to come clean to people and say we're running out of options. Nobody wants to close the nursery but the sisters are way past retirement age.

'This nursery has been superbly successful and there is an enormous amount of public feeling and public love for it. The Sisters of Mercy own, run and support the nursery and have a legal responsibility for it. The people who take it over have got to realise that they have a long term responsibility for it, not just a short-term one.'

Resources

He said the Roman Catholic parish had 'limited resources' to take on a nursery of this size, and added that nearby St Phillip's School 'didn't feel able to take it up'.

'This nursery deserves a positive future,' he said, 'but it will take some original thinking to make it happen.'

More than 130 children are registered with the nursery, which employs 15 staff, not including the sisters. Parents this week praised the quality of the nursery. One mother said: 'When we looked at the different nurseries around, this one stood out as one of the best.' Another parent said: 'If this closes there's going to be an awful lack of places in the town.'

The sisters are hoping to remain living in Uckfield.