CHILDREN and teachers could lose their much loved nursery as regeneration work in the area is underway.

Abracadabra Preschool Nursery in Barnet & Southgate College, Colindale, could close its door for good at the end of next month as part of the Grahame Park Regeneration Scheme.

But teachers and parents are determined not to let this happen and want to fight the closure.

Director of the nursery, Sharmee Bhatt, has been running Abracadabra Preschool Nursery for ten years but has been told to leave by the end of June.

She said: “I thought I would be able to secure something having run the school for 10 years, and if I had more people on my side, it would be a better chance of finding new premises.

“We are a good school, we have received “outstanding” Ofsted reports. A month ago, they were planning phase two with a new 90 space nursery, and they wouldn’t even consider my nursery or the children.

“They should have at least given us a chance to bid for the place, just because we are a private nursery, does not mean we should not be heard. We are losing our home and all the 45 children registered for next academic year will also lose their nursery school.”

Ms Bhatt was told the first phase of the regeneration scheme for Grahame Park in Colindale, could not accommodate a new nursery, but the second phase could.

She was then devastated to be told the nursery would be run by another business.

Nursery staff and parents are fully supporting Ms Bhatt in her fight against the closure, and a petition has gained more than 100 signatures.

Parent Kerrie Davies, says her three-year-old daughter would be “really upset” if she had to move away from all her friends.

Ms Davies said: “It will be a big problem for us if the nursery is closed. At the moment, it is a five minute walk away.

“I know the school well, it is a good one and I don’t want to uproot my daughter and take her away from all her friends. From her first day, she loved it, and she always talks about how much she likes it there.”

Labour Councillor Gill Sargeant of the Colindale ward, said she was “very unhappy” about what is happening.


Cllr Sargeant said: “The replacement nursery may not be ready for over 18 months and we need to continue working with the nursery to see what will be offered to the children and their working parents that is affordable.


"The population of Colindale, and Grahame Park is going to go up because of the amount of regeneration going on and we need to continue working with the nursery to ensure it can survive and continue to provide its outstanding provision.”


A spokesperson for Barnet council said: “The private Abracadabra Preschool has an arrangement to use space in the existing Barnet and Southgate College building which the council is not party to, and the redevelopment of that building is not within the boundary of the wider Grahame Park regeneration scheme.


“The council has been in contact with the nursery and offered support in it finding an alternative base including putting it in touch with a housing association which may have a suitable site. We understand that all available space in the new College building is dedicated to training facilities.”