Over 100 people joined a protest outside South Tyneside Town Hall on Thursday, demanding the protection of council-run nurseries that parents describe as a lifeline. The demonstration, called Save Our STANLEYs, took place outside South Shields Town Hall.
The protest follows online reports suggesting that South Tyneside Accredited Network for Learning in the Early Years (STANLEY) Daycare Centres across the borough could close, potentially leading to staff redundancies. Trade union UNISON confirmed that the council is currently consulting with staff and unions on proposals.
South Tyneside Council stated that support for local children is under review but emphasised that no decisions have been made regarding the future of the centres.
Joanna Taylor, whose daughter attends a STANLEY centre in Hebburn, said: STANLEYs has been a lifeline for all of the parents, grandparents and carers. At the end of the day, this is about our children and we need to be thinking about them. She added: My child has a bond with the staff and her peers. It is a home away from home, an extended family. My daughter has been in STANLEYs nurseries since she was six months old and now she is three. It is a lifeline.
Taylor noted that worried parents have contacted private nurseries in the borough, only to be told that waiting lists extend to 2028. She questioned how working parents would continue to work if STANLEY centres close. Taylor has launched a petition to save the centres, which has garnered over 4,000 signatures online in a week, while a paper petition collected 70 signatures within two hours during the protest.
A South Tyneside Council spokesperson said: Any petition received by the Council will be considered in accordance with the arrangements in the Council's constitution. In a previous statement, the council added: 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.
