Coram – the oldest children’s charity in the country – helped to create the Thomas Coram pioneering early years centre, which was the backdrop for the launch of Sure Start by Tony Blair and the Labour government in 1998.
Trustees at the maintained nursery school say that it is being forced out by Coram, which is the landlord and freeholder, and that it has not been given an explanation as to why the charity wants to steeply increase the rent it charges Camden Council and cut the nursery’s indoor space, that could lead to a loss of half of the 150 nursery places, as well as reclaim the nursery garden.
The nursery school is the only maintained nursery in Camden, and many of the places are for children from deprived communities, refugee families, and those with special educational needs.
Coram says that the nursery’s rent has not increased since 2016 and that it is charging less than other charities based on the site. The charity also blames Camden Council for ‘leaving the nursery in limbo’.
The nursery school has run in its current form since 1998 as part of a partnership between the local authority and the charity, replacing two existing nurseries which Coram previously ran in the building.
Barbara Riddell, a nursery school trustee, told Nursery World that it felt like the nursery school had gone ‘from cherished child to abandoned family’.
She also said that the charity has not talked to the nursery school about the rent increase.
‘We’re absolutely astonished by the trustees’ refusal to talk to us about it.’
The current rent of £115,000 a year is set to double, she said. The nursery also pays £108,000 a year in service charges.
Riddell said that the charity wants to take back the space currently used by two-year-olds as well as the garden, clearly valuable outdoor space for children in central London.
Coram has grown from The Foundling Hospital set up by Thomas Coram in 1739 as a home for babies whose mothers were unable to care for them to become a charity group of specialists in working with children and families.
Coram’s website states that it is ‘regenerating’ the campus and setting up the Coram Institute for the Future of Children, which will house four new centres.
'Incomparable nursery'
The nursery school wrote to parents last Thursday to inform them of the situation.
It said, ‘The school has a long history on the Coram site and Camden, the local authority responsible for the school, pays rent to Coram for the space we occupy. We have been informed that Coram wish to increase the cost and reduce the space we use.
‘We are really grateful to Camden for their financial support. There is no doubt that the local authority values our early years education and SEND provision very highly, and recognises our importance as the only maintained nursery school in the borough.’
Lucy Razzall, chair of governors and a parent at the nursery school, said, ’This is an exceptional nursery school, giving local children the best possible start to their education. The purpose-built facilities, and the beautiful garden, are incomparable, especially in central London. The idea that this dedicated children’s space might be converted to offices or conference rooms is absolutely sickening.’
'Why are Coram doing this?'
Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of Early Education, said that it was ‘disingenuous of Coram to claim that they are supporting the nursery school by not charging a market rent’ which would be unaffordable, especially when reducing the space available for places for disadvantaged two-year-olds.
‘Delivering a service in keeping with its charitable objectives should surely be the trustees’ priority, rather than trying to maximise the cash it can make on its assets,’ she said.
Riddell said, ‘The real question is why are Coram doing this? Why is the principal architect of the Thomas Coram Children’s Centre now behaving as if the nature of the arrangement was only ever as the landlord? Governors of the nursery school have tried hard to make contact with the trustees of the charity as has the leader of Camden Council. They have refused to speak to us.’
Merrick added that it was ‘strange for [Coram] to be blaming the council and acting as though the nursery school is an external tenant, rather than an integral part of the Coram charity.
‘The council plays a role in the partnership insofar as the Thomas Coram Centre is a local authority maintained school, and as such may be the signatory on the lease, but the funding for the nursery school has to come from the income the nursery gets from government entitlement funding, not from some profit-making business.
‘It is not at all clear why Coram is suddenly disowning the nursery school in this way.’
In a statement Coram said, ‘Coram greatly values the Thomas Coram Nursery School and wants nothing more than for it to continue to serve local children on a fair and equitable basis with all the other children and charities who use our campus.
‘The future and funding of the maintained statutory nursery is a matter for Camden. Coram has presented multiple options to safeguard the nursery's future at Coram, even phasing the rent rise over three years to match the rent that other charities on the Coram campus pay, which is well below the market rate.
‘We are dismayed that two years after terms were agreed, Camden has yet to fulfil their stated intent, leaving their own nursery in limbo and the charity and the children we serve bearing the consequences. We urge Camden to work with us to resolve this matter swiftly and we are actively seeking discussions.’
The local authority said it was committed to signing a new lease but the delay was due to the nursery being clear that the conditions set out in the new lease by Coram would present challenges for their viability.
A Camden Council spokesperson said, ‘Camden council is determined to do everything we can to support Thomas Coram Nursery which provides nationally leading early years education in the heart of Camden. We already invest a significant sum each year to maintain the provision as the nursery faces risings costs.
‘The nursery have been really clear with us that higher rent and critically a reduction in bespoke childcare space being proposed will severely threaten their future so we have been advocating on their behalf to try and find a solution.
‘We will continue to try and work with the nursery and Coram charity to find a way to safeguard the nursery as quickly as possible.’
- You can sign the petition to save Thomas Coram Nursery School here
