Council's confusion (From Barry And District News)

Council's confusion

BARRY schools providing full-time nursery care will no longer be allowed to offer the service because of an error made by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Despite repeated requests by the Barry and District News, the council has refused to go into detail on the'error' - other than to say the mix-up was caused by'confusion' over pupil numbers.

How much this has cost taxpayers is a mystery.

Five schools in Barry will have to tell all parents that from September 2005, only part-time nursery places will be available because the funding for full-time places was granted in error.

Barry Island, St Baruc, High Street, Oakfield, and Ysgol Gwaun-y-Nant primary schools are affected, and will only be allowed to provide free part-time nursery places.

Concerned parent Mark Peplow, of Mountbatten Road, sends his two children to Barry Island Primary School.

He said: "My first child, five-year-old Lewis, was given full time nursery care at the school but now my three-year-old Georgia will have to be looked after by her grandmother.

"Bridgend Council provide full-time free nursery places so why not here."

Headmistress of Barry Island Primary School, Janet Hayward said: "This is a decision taken by the local education authority.

"We were allowed to give the service because in 1997 MP John Smith fought for these places.

"But when all schools wanted to have the same option the authority decided to stop full-time places in the schools."