‘Build to protect them’ - Trade unions call for South Tyneside Council to maintain Stanley’s service
Two trade unions have called on South Tyneside Council to maintain the Stanley’s childcare provision.
UNISON and the GMB are calling for South Tyneside Council to reconsider making cuts to the South Tyneside Accredited Network for Learning in the Early Years (Stanley’s).
The provision, which provides affordable childcare at 10 centres across the borough, is under threat after it was leaked that the local authority is proposing cuts to the service.
Among the proposals is the option to close all the centres, meaning that staff are at risk of redundancy and parents left without nurseries for their children.
‘Build to protect them’
Mark Wilson, GMB organiser, has called for the local authority to strength Stanley’s rather than looking to make cuts to the provision.
He said: “Clearly this has came as an absolute shock to our members, who are upset and angry with South Tyneside Council.
“Our members are saying loud and clear, no to closures and no to a review so we’re now working to convince the Council that this is the wrong path to go down.
“From a union perspective, we’re concerned about the potential loss of low-cost, high quality childcare in a deprived area like South Tyneside.
“The other issue is that Stanley’s care for SEND children and there is very little provision in the private sector.
“South Tyneside Council should reverse track and build to protect them rather than putting them at risk.”
‘Our members are very upset and angry’
Ian Fleming, Regional Organiser for UNISON, has called for Stanley’s to remain with South Tyneside Council rather than the provision being filled via the private sector.
He commented: “Our members are very upset and angry, this borough has lost enough jobs so we’re here to not only support the staff but also the families that use Stanley’s.
“We need to make sure that there is a fair process carried out by South Tyneside Council.
“At the moment, we are at a very early point in the consultation and a whole host of things could happen.
“Hopefully redundancies can be mitigated but one thing is for sure, the service does need to be provided in the borough - whether through the Council or through the private sector.
“From our perspective, we would like it to remain with South Tyneside Council.”
Council consulting with trade unions
A Council spokesperson said: “We are reviewing how we support children and families, with a focus on building a stronger, more joined-up system that helps families get the right support at the right time.
“This work forms part of the Council’s 2026/27 budget, agreed in February, which includes delivering a range of efficiencies, service improvements and income generation across all services.
“Discussions with staff and trade unions are underway, and no decisions have been made at this stage.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on specific service models or potential changes while this process is ongoing.
“We understand there has been external speculation and that this may be unsettling. However, we would ask people not to draw conclusions at this stage.
“Our focus is on ensuring children and families can continue to access the support they need in their local communities, including looking at how services can be delivered in the most effective and accessible way.”