Derby nursery school return put back by a month because of delays to building work

A RETURN to lessons at a Derby nursery school undergoing £250,000 repairs has been delayed by a month.

Pupils at Derby City Council-run Central Nursery School were due to start back on September 15 but this has now been delayed until October 13.

The setback has left parents with the dilemma of sending children to an alternative venue or to keep them at home.

Staff of the Nun's Street nursery wrote to parents at the weekend, giving them a choice of alternative venues.

These include: Ashgate Nursery School, in Stepping Lane; Castle Nursery School, Copeland Street; and Kingfisher Day Nursery, Duffield Road.

Alternatively, parents can keep their children at home, and they will still be able to attend activities and trips.

Children due to attend the West End children's centre at the school have been offered temporary accommodation at the Lighthouse nursery, in St Mark's Road, Derby.

Head teacher Clare Crosser said: "We do appreciate the extreme difficulties and impact this will cause families.

"We are working hard to support families as best we can.

"Alternative venues are a hard decision, especially if a child is starting the nursery for the first time."

Parents have until Wednesday to decide on alternatives, which some say is too short notice.

Kerry Chambers, 31, of Uttoxeter New Road, was planning to send daughter Kayla to Central Nursery but is now re-thinking her plans.

She said: "I work full-time and can't afford to mess about. I want to settle my daughter somewhere permanently and not change in a month."

Gary Brown, 32, of Ashbourne Road, with son Rory, was concerned parents had too little time to decide.

He said: "I appreciate this is not by choice but this is a bit last minute. I heard rumours work was behind a couple of weeks ago and am surprised no-one told us sooner."

The project included re-roofing the main building, taking out asbestos and fitting a new suspended ceiling and lights.

A Derby city council spokesman said: "The extent of the work is now more than originally anticipated.

"As part of the asbestos strip, a substantial amount of the cabling – intruder alarm, electrical, fire alarm and computing – was removed, so this now needs to be replaced.

"Once exposed, the roof structure was also in a worse state than originally thought and additional areas and components have been replaced.

"Negotiations are ongoing with the contractor regarding any additional costs, which have yet to be determined."

It is the latest in a series of delays involving school building work in the city.

The new £19m Sinfin Community School was delayed by a week, while Chaddesden's £3.1m Skills Academy at Lees Brook Community Sports College faces a month's delay.