A council is pushing ahead with permanently closing a nursery after revealing its budget has been drained.

Startpoint Sholing has been in the community for more than 20 years and offers 26 spaces for children.

Despite being in operation for more than two decades, Southampton City Council said the cost of running the nursery is no longer sustainable.

“This is costing the council more and more each year and it has not been possible to identify a financially viable solution for the nursery,” the council said.

The proposals to shut the nursery comes after the creation of new childcare places recently opened in the city and planned expansions for 2025.

It is one of 36 in Southampton, and one of 10 in the wider Sholing area.

In 2023, the resident population of Southampton was estimated to be 264,957, of which 129,721 (49 per cent) were female and 135,236 (51 per cent) were male, according to Small Area Population Forecasts (SAPF).

Children between the ages zero to five make up 6.3 per cent (16,808) of the city’s population.

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The council added: “We believe there is a sufficient supply of good quality, inclusive, affordable and flexible childcare choices available in Southampton.

“The Early Years funding that is provided by central government does not cover the costs of sustaining this nursery without the need for significant on-going council subsidies.

“This is costing the council more and more each year and it has not been possible to identify a financially viable solution for the nursery. 

“Due to the uncertainty about the nursery’s future, no new children have currently been offered a place for September to avoid any major disruption to a child’s early development.”

The announcement comes after Bitterne Community Pre-School suddenly closed in March.

The decision was made following an Ofsted inspection on February 20, which graded the pre-school as 'inadequate'

The nursery was pulled back from the brink by early years group Paint Pots, who was approached to see if it could take on the provision of a setting in the same location.

Paint Pots took over the site in April.

The consultation for Startpoint Sholing closes on October 18 2024.

Visit www.southampton.gov.uk/council-democracy/have-your-say/startpoint-sholing-day-nursery-consultation to take part in the consultation.

Would you be affected by the closure? Email maya.george@dailyecho.co.uk to speak in confidence.