It is difficult to get a true measure of exactly what is going on in the case of MCC's forced closure. However, what we do know is that, at very short notice, a final decision has been announced to parents and MCC staff without any consultation process or clear evidence for the need for this to happen. The staff at MCC are all dedicated, lovely people who create a very welcoming and enjoyable after-school environment that is more akin to a 'home from home'. The children love it and after a long school day, some free time playing with their friends is exactly what they need. The highly uncertain position that the staff have now been put in is an outrage and completely unjust. The autocratic style of the new headteacher and the way in which the governing body have allowed this to happen is of great concern. Who is the school being run for - the headteacher or the children and parents who use it?
F
Facts are all that matter
10 years ago
How ignorant you are! Cash in bank isn't profit (nor gain), it is funding received in lump sums to be spread over each term for early years children. Salaries (£30k per month), food and resources for 6 settings soon takes all that. Wow true colours are really coming out now :-(
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
We hope that Rose Hill will be able to keep the poor Kidzone staff who have been treated disgracefully by their four directors! You four conveniently forgot to disclose your declared gain of £133,000 and £127,000 and that is just in the last two years! This certainly was never spent on our children or your lovely staff who are paid a pittance. Now we know that the school is getting peanuts from you aswell! You have exploited your staff and the school, never mind your unprofessionalism towards Rose Hill! Isn't it ironic that one of you was staggeringly the Chair of Governors in charge of all the school's decisions? Your company certainly manoeuvred itself to a position for your own personal gain. Can that be legal? At least from April we know that out childcare money is going to a legitimate set-up which will benefit our school community, not to feather the pockets of four dishonest directors!
Please save the poor Kidzone staff, Rose Hill!
F
Facts are all that matter
10 years ago
@Anne Guishe I do agree with the majority of what you say, and I no longer see the point of this page....... however the original rent asked for from the school was a 700% increase. I believe that if you ask Marple Childcare they themselves say that the rent was due for review, albeit they were paying what had been asked of them, they didn't set the rent. They did agree on a lower figure but school wouldn't commit beyond this year without another big increase in September.
A
Anne Guishe
10 years ago
700%... MCC were never asked to pay that much. The rent they had been paying was an 'overly generous legacy' and they accepted the new rate that was offered for this school year. Brandishing half-truths and malicious gossip on this page will only cause further upset to the many parents, families and employees of both settings. It is time that we move forward. Marple's youngest are in need of help... help with their homework, help with their reading, help with their speaking and listening skills, help with their spellings (as do a lot of parents, judging by this page), help with growing up in an ever changing world... so put your phone or tablet down, stop looking for inflammatory comments on here and spend some time with Marple's youngest while you can.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Whilst I understand everyone being frustrated with the situation, from what I hear mcc agreed that a new contract and rent review was needed, I don't think they expected it to be over 700% increase though! Those kind of figures clearly demonstrate that the school had other plans, which didn't include mcc. The school should stop trying to blame everyone else and just admit that they had their own plans going forward, maybe then people would have a little more respect for them.
L
Lisa
10 years ago
The school finances are not the fault of the current headteacher but neither are they Marple Childcare's fault either. They are a small childcare provider and not responsible for fixing the mess left behind. Raising the rent to unaffordable levels helps no-one. Parents lose their well-loved pre-school and Kidzone, the school lose all rent contributions and are now have the management and cost of providing wrap around care.
Goodness knows how the Local Authority let the school finances get so bad.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I am disgusted to hear what the school have had to face since Mrs Bragg and Carol Candler-Chair of Governors left the school with hundreds of thousands of debt. No wonder they had to raise the rent! It's all coming out now!
S
sue rice
10 years ago
Much needed in the stes
M
Michelle Soakell
10 years ago
Worried aunty
W
Worried Mummy
10 years ago
Such sad news.. Marple Childcare have provided us with excellent wrap around care for a few years now. They are friendly and flexible enough to accommodate parents shift patterns too (will the new 'facility' be able to offer parents the same service I wonder?) The letter to parents stating that school is working on a new plan is not very reassuring either! Surely a plan and staffing should be in place before MCCo were given their notice? Uncertain times and lots of worried parents who rely on and value everything that Marple Childcare offers.
R
ricky taylor
10 years ago
After hearing the facts and figures,i feel it is impossible for the school to defend their decision.
A
alex costley-white
10 years ago
Yeah, dont do that6
B
Ben Tynan
10 years ago
Please reconsider or disclose rationale for the decision.
T
Tony Jackson
10 years ago
Belittling people that may have found it more difficult at school, or were possibly not as fortunate to have the same level of education as you, when essentially they are 100% correct in what they are saying, isn't what this petition was set up for... Ultimately the fact still remains that RHPS has increased MCC's room rate by so much, that it has forced this Ofsted OUTSTANDING Pre school to cease operations from this setting..!
H
Helen Anderton
10 years ago
Please don't close this vital resource that is so desperately needed.
E
Emma Carl
10 years ago
Please keep this school open
B
brian walton
10 years ago
Speaking as a grandparent I feel disgusted at the unfeeling and unproffessional actions of the head. This is purely a decision based on financial grounds with no consideration to pupils or perents.
A
Anne Davies
10 years ago
I highly disagree with the closure of the pre school especially for those who are shortly going to be joining the primary school within a few months, the disruption will be devistating for them to have leave there not only that this pre school is greatly needed for that age child in this catchment area. Please wld you rethink your decision. Thankyou. A very concerned grandparent
J
Joanne Halliwell
10 years ago
Only been in the area for a year. The level of childcare is fabulous and very reasonable for the working parents among us.
It is difficult to get a true measure of exactly what is going on in the case of MCC's forced closure. However, what we do know is that, at very short notice, a final decision has been announced to parents and MCC staff without any consultation process or clear evidence for the need for this to happen. The staff at MCC are all dedicated, lovely people who create a very welcoming and enjoyable after-school environment that is more akin to a 'home from home'. The children love it and after a long school day, some free time playing with their friends is exactly what they need. The highly uncertain position that the staff have now been put in is an outrage and completely unjust. The autocratic style of the new headteacher and the way in which the governing body have allowed this to happen is of great concern. Who is the school being run for - the headteacher or the children and parents who use it?
How ignorant you are! Cash in bank isn't profit (nor gain), it is funding received in lump sums to be spread over each term for early years children. Salaries (£30k per month), food and resources for 6 settings soon takes all that. Wow true colours are really coming out now :-(
We hope that Rose Hill will be able to keep the poor Kidzone staff who have been treated disgracefully by their four directors! You four conveniently forgot to disclose your declared gain of £133,000 and £127,000 and that is just in the last two years! This certainly was never spent on our children or your lovely staff who are paid a pittance. Now we know that the school is getting peanuts from you aswell! You have exploited your staff and the school, never mind your unprofessionalism towards Rose Hill! Isn't it ironic that one of you was staggeringly the Chair of Governors in charge of all the school's decisions? Your company certainly manoeuvred itself to a position for your own personal gain. Can that be legal? At least from April we know that out childcare money is going to a legitimate set-up which will benefit our school community, not to feather the pockets of four dishonest directors! Please save the poor Kidzone staff, Rose Hill!
@Anne Guishe I do agree with the majority of what you say, and I no longer see the point of this page....... however the original rent asked for from the school was a 700% increase. I believe that if you ask Marple Childcare they themselves say that the rent was due for review, albeit they were paying what had been asked of them, they didn't set the rent. They did agree on a lower figure but school wouldn't commit beyond this year without another big increase in September.
700%... MCC were never asked to pay that much. The rent they had been paying was an 'overly generous legacy' and they accepted the new rate that was offered for this school year. Brandishing half-truths and malicious gossip on this page will only cause further upset to the many parents, families and employees of both settings. It is time that we move forward. Marple's youngest are in need of help... help with their homework, help with their reading, help with their speaking and listening skills, help with their spellings (as do a lot of parents, judging by this page), help with growing up in an ever changing world... so put your phone or tablet down, stop looking for inflammatory comments on here and spend some time with Marple's youngest while you can.
Whilst I understand everyone being frustrated with the situation, from what I hear mcc agreed that a new contract and rent review was needed, I don't think they expected it to be over 700% increase though! Those kind of figures clearly demonstrate that the school had other plans, which didn't include mcc. The school should stop trying to blame everyone else and just admit that they had their own plans going forward, maybe then people would have a little more respect for them.
The school finances are not the fault of the current headteacher but neither are they Marple Childcare's fault either. They are a small childcare provider and not responsible for fixing the mess left behind. Raising the rent to unaffordable levels helps no-one. Parents lose their well-loved pre-school and Kidzone, the school lose all rent contributions and are now have the management and cost of providing wrap around care. Goodness knows how the Local Authority let the school finances get so bad.
I am disgusted to hear what the school have had to face since Mrs Bragg and Carol Candler-Chair of Governors left the school with hundreds of thousands of debt. No wonder they had to raise the rent! It's all coming out now!
Much needed in the stes
Worried aunty
Such sad news.. Marple Childcare have provided us with excellent wrap around care for a few years now. They are friendly and flexible enough to accommodate parents shift patterns too (will the new 'facility' be able to offer parents the same service I wonder?) The letter to parents stating that school is working on a new plan is not very reassuring either! Surely a plan and staffing should be in place before MCCo were given their notice? Uncertain times and lots of worried parents who rely on and value everything that Marple Childcare offers.
After hearing the facts and figures,i feel it is impossible for the school to defend their decision.
Yeah, dont do that6
Please reconsider or disclose rationale for the decision.
Belittling people that may have found it more difficult at school, or were possibly not as fortunate to have the same level of education as you, when essentially they are 100% correct in what they are saying, isn't what this petition was set up for... Ultimately the fact still remains that RHPS has increased MCC's room rate by so much, that it has forced this Ofsted OUTSTANDING Pre school to cease operations from this setting..!
Please don't close this vital resource that is so desperately needed.
Please keep this school open
Speaking as a grandparent I feel disgusted at the unfeeling and unproffessional actions of the head. This is purely a decision based on financial grounds with no consideration to pupils or perents.
I highly disagree with the closure of the pre school especially for those who are shortly going to be joining the primary school within a few months, the disruption will be devistating for them to have leave there not only that this pre school is greatly needed for that age child in this catchment area. Please wld you rethink your decision. Thankyou. A very concerned grandparent
Only been in the area for a year. The level of childcare is fabulous and very reasonable for the working parents among us.