A south Wimbledon children's nursery is to close as Merton's children's services are restructured.

Merton spent six months conducting a review of the services following a joint review last year which decided to "refocus" existing provision in the borough.

As a result, day care provision for two to five year olds will be transferred in April from the NCH Leyton Road resource centre to Bond Road Early Years Centre, which will provide family support for children up to the age of nine and their families.

The Leyton Road centre will increase and develop the range of family support services it already provides to older children. The annual cost of the current early years service at Leyton Road is approximately £325,000.

Councillor Maxi Martin, cabinet member for care services, said: "Following the joint review of existing children's services last year, recommendations were made to audit the existing services and refocus them to target the children in greatest need in Merton.

"The changes do not represent a cut in the children's budget but a redistribution to increase the range of preventative service to families."

The centre has functioned as a family centre run by NCH since 1994 but has only offered day care for 24 children in its present form for the last two and a half years.

There will be a range of flexible support services to families which will be designed to meet the individual needs of children and families, including group support and after-school and holiday activities.

The aim is to provide complementary services to those provided by education, health and the voluntary sector.

January 31, 2003 10:30