I won’t be able to get an autism diagnosis for my two-year-old daughter if Stanley’s closes
A worried South Shields mum has spoken about her upset at the potential closure of Stanley’s nurseries.
A South Shields mum has spoken of the “massive impact” that the possible closure of Stanley’s daycare centres would have on her two-year-old child.
Kate Thompson, from the Tyne Dock area, has revealed that she is currently awaiting an autism assessment for her daughter, Lilly-Anne.
In order for the assessment to be carried out, Lilly needs to be in a nursery setting but Kate says that if Stanley’s closes, then there will be no where for Lilly to go.
Kate’s worry comes as South Tyneside Council has confirmed that it is considering making cuts to the South Tyneside Accredited Network for Learning in the Early Years (Stanley’s).
‘We need a nursery setting’
The South Shields mum states that despite Lilly having only been at Stanley’s for three months, the nursery setting has really brought on her daughter’s confidence.
The 37-year-old said: “I was really upset to find out the news because Lilly has found a place where she feels safe.
“It has been fantastic seeing the amount of confidence Lilly has gained during her three months at Stanley’s.
“With her undergoing an assessment for autism, we need Lilly to be in a nursery because people will need to see her in a neutral environment.
“If Stanley’s is cut, then it looks like we won’t have that and it will have a massive impact on Lilly.”
‘I would hate to knock the progress that she has made’
Kate has also spoken about how it will impact Lilly’s development if Stanley’s was to close and highlighted that it would be unlikely that she’d be able to find another nursery for Lilly.
She added: “Lilly won’t be able to get into a nursery now because the private nurseries are already full.
“So it will mean that I’d have to have her at home for a year until it is time for her to start school properly.
“That would delay her and impact her confidence - she comes home from nursery and talks about the friends that she is making.
“I don’t want her to think that she has to be with me all of the time and the nursery setting has really brought that on.
“I would hate to knock the progress that she has made so far.”
South Tyneside Council has stated that “no decisions” have been made over Stanley’s future and that a consultation is underway with staff and trade unions.