A CAMPAIGN has been launched to fight plans to axe provision for under twos at a Rowley Regis nursery.

Rowley Hall Primary School is proposing to cut the service and integrate the remainder of the Rowley Owls Nursery, for three-to five-year-olds, into the school.

A school support staff trade union official described the move by governors as a “knee jerk” reaction to an “inadequate” Ofsted judgement following an inspection in February when the nursery manager was on maternity leave.

GMB regional organiser Gill Whittaker said although the latest ofsted inspection in August found the nursery “requires improvement” the report acknowledged there had been rapid improvement in a short time and the manager was back at work.

She questioned why the school governors were proposing closing the baby unit which had not come under fire from inspectors.

“The staffing ratio for three to five-year-olds is much less and I wonder if this proposal is about profitability and not about the service required or needed,” said Ms Whittaker.

More than 350 people have signed petitions online and at the school gate against the plan and Ms Whittaker said there was no suitable alternative childcare available in the area.

The baby unit currently cares for 11 children and 62 youngsters in total attend the nursery either full or part-time.

Ms Whittaker said parents had been told they could not put their children’s names down for a place in the baby unit, claiming that indicated the plan had been under consideration for some time.

Governors met parents on Monday to discuss the proposals and headteacher Nicola Stanley said feedback from parents and staff during the consultation would be taken into consideration.

She said: “Governors have put forward a proposal to change the way we run Rowley Owls Nursery in order to improve standards.

"We have asked for comments on this proposal from parents and staff during a consultation about the changes.”ery Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services said: “We will review the situation once a decision has been made by the governing body.”

A decision is expected to be made by governors next Monday (October 12).

The Rowley Owls Nursery is currently housed in the Happy Faces Children’s Centre on the school site, but the proposal does not affect the centre, which is run by the Murray Hall Trust.