Lambeth’s nursery U-turn: Another fine mess swept under the rug as election looms for Labour

Lambeth Council has made a surprise reversal on plans to close three maintained nursery schools, withdrawing consultations and citing changes in national policy – a move that has taken parents, unions and campaign groups by surprise while prompting accusations of “politics over people” from across the borough’s political spectrum.

The consultations on Effra, Triangle and Maytree nursery schools were abruptly ended on Monday 16 March, with the council seizing on a government White Paper published three weeks earlier to justify withdrawing the controversial proposals.

The decision means residents never got the chance to formally respond – the consultations were shut down before completion, following mounting campaign pressure from parents, staff and unions who described the nurseries as “lifelines” for vulnerable children.

Jess Edwards, Joint Secretary of Lambeth NEU and National Executive Member for Inner London, told Brixton Buzz ahead of the withdrawal that the nurseries provide “specialist early years education, stability, and support for vulnerable children” that “cannot easily be replaced.” The campaign had been organizing a lobby of the council, but is now regrouping following the unexpected reversal.

The Lambeth crisis reflects a national pattern. Research by UCL’s Faculty of Education found that not-for-profit nurseries declined by 19% between 2018 and 2024, while for-profit private nurseries grew by 10% – with private equity-backed chains doubling their market share and concentrating in wealthy areas. In Lambeth, council documents note “hundreds of vacant childcare places across private nurseries and childminders” within a mile of the threatened maintained schools.

The council cites a £2.4 million deficit across the three nurseries, driven by a 38% fall in pupil numbers over five years. However, maintained nursery schools – which employ qualified teachers and Special Educational Needs Coordinators – face structurally higher costs than private providers under a funding formula introduced by the Conservative government in 2017 and unchanged by Labour since July 2024.

The decision has prompted criticism across the political spectrum, with opposition parties questioning both the timing and Labour’s refusal to address the underlying funding formula.

Green councillor for Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction, Paul Valentine who represents parents whose children attend Effra and Triangle nurseries, said:

“The decision to end the consultations will come as a great relief to families and staff who felt they weren’t being listened to and were deeply concerned by the council’s approach.

Cllr Ben Kind says he’s spoken to councillors, but he has not met the Greens and stonewalled our requests for further information – despite the fact that I represent parents affected by the closures.

It’s clear that, even when it comes to such important issues, Labour will prioritise politics over people. Greens would provide more funding for nurseries to ensure they can stay open and teachers are paid properly.” – Paul Valentine, Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction

Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Nicholson, who previously led a London borough and served as Special Adviser to Ed Davey when he was Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said he had been driven to stand again after 15 years away from electoral politics because Lambeth “is being run so badly.”

“This is another example of Labour postponing controversial decisions until after May 7th,” he said. “We’ve seen it with street light dimming, with controlled parking zones in Streatham Vale – and now nursery closures. If they win a majority, these unpopular proposals will be back.” – Chris Nicholson, Clapham Common & Abbeville candidate

Ruby Bukhari, whose Shake It Up independent campaign has gained significant traction in Brixton, was more direct.

“Lambeth’s nursery crisis is the result of the Tory funding formula that Labour has refused to reform for 18 months. The White Paper offers short-term cynical funding that gets Lambeth past May 7th, but doesn’t fix the underlying formula.

Will they commit to reforming that formula after the elections, or are families just going to be put through another consultation charade again if Labour’s re-elected?” – Ruby Bukhari, Brixton Acre Lane candidate

More Info

Data

UCL Faculty of Education: Private equity backed nurseries contribute to ‘care deserts’ in poorer areas

National Day Nurseries Association closures data

Local Government Association research on nursery closures in England

House of Commons Library briefing on maintained nursery schools funding

Background

Government Schools White Paper ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’

Lambeth Council statement on consultation withdrawal

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It’s a movement that goes way back before Wat Tyler but crystalised when Keir Hardie became its first leader in 1900. The creation of the welfare state, NHS and state education system were among its greatest achievements.

Margaret Thatcher conducted a well-documented war on organised labour which included, in the 1980 Education Act, the removal of the duty to provide nursery care on local authorities.

The Sure Start scheme under the Blair government introduced nursery vouchers for families which were in turn decimated by austerity politics from 2010 and more recently by private equity’s entry into UK nursery provision.

So when looking at nursery budget deficits, through the deepest-red rose-tinted glasses of a new super-majority Labour government and council, why is the Holland administration’s initial instinct to say: ‘well there’s plenty of capacity in the private sector, let’s shut the state ones down’? Forget getting more funding for them, or even looking at levelling the staffing and headteacher requirements between state and private providers.

Beats me! I guess it’s like when faced with having to find a single million quid to fund Lambeth’s much-loved Country Show, the answer is shut it down. As opposed to charge the private equity festivals more rent – no, shut it down. In fact, give that weekend to the private equity festivals.

It’s the same logic that says let’s give countless millions of public money to temporary accommodation providers, and let’s not build (or properly maintain) council stock. In fact let’s demolish our council housing stock and sell the land to private equity developers. Genius!!!

And the casino? Labour removed the ‘No Casino’ clause while Steve Reed campaigns against gambling in Croydon, that’s genius too. I guess private equity is opening Lambeth’s new casino.

I think the Labour movement is full of great, well-intentioned people and that’s why it survives and always will survive.

I think they just need to leave the leaders behind because the leaders seem to be giving the fruits of all their labour to private equity.

Did you notice that the UCL article in the More Info section was called: Private equity-backed nurseries contribute to ‘care deserts’ in poorer areas?

Words and photos by Two Keir Tier