Principal confirms Perth College Nursery will close at end of June amid budget cuts

After several weeks of uncertainty, Perth College has confirmed its nursery will close at the end of this month.

The facility was one of a number of services earmarked for closure in April after bosses revealed a £4m funding gap.

The decision comes 12 months after parents won their fight to keep the nursery open.

The college’s principal says the move is necessary to create financial sustainability.

Dr Margaret Cook, UHI Perth principal and chief executive confirmed: “After careful consideration of all available options, we regret to announce that our nursery will permanently close at the end of June 2024 due to financial unsustainability.

“Throughout the period of collective consultation, we actively engaged with our trade unions, staff, students, and parents/carers of the nursery.

“We also listened to other stakeholders, including local politicians and Perth and Kinross Council. This decision comes after consideration of various counterproposals.

“We acknowledge that this has been a prolonged and challenging process for our dedicated staff as we explored possible alternative options.”

The nursery is one of a number of Perth College services considered for closure as bosses look to cut around 70 jobs.

Unions have hit out at the decision and claim there is a way to make the nursery profitable.

Unison rep Jane Edwards said: “It has become apparent that there are models which would allow the nursery to remain open and make a modest profit.

“The principal has chosen to shut down the discussion on exploring options to save the nursery for students and the local community, and to save the jobs of our members.

“It is obvious that college senior management have completely failed in their duty of care and have set off, hell-bent, on a path leading only to the destruction and dismantling of a vital service.

“They have obstructed trade unions from getting all relevant information and have actively refused to save the nursery, despite having options to save it.”