A parent-led nursery at least £200 cheaper than every other in the area could be coming to West Norwood.  

Emerging from an action group of around 90 parents created to fight the sudden closure of a nursery, the Cherry Tree Community Co-op wants to “give parents ownership” of their children’s education.  

Last year the Great North Wood Educational Trust, which took over the Rosendale Primary School after it was academised, closed the linked Cherry Tree Children’s Centre. 

The trust announced it could no longer afford to run the nursery. 

Now, made up of a smaller group of parents and Thurlow Park Councillor Anna Birley, the Co-op is lobbying the council, which owns the land and purpose-built building, for the lease.  

It has also just published a detailed five-year business plan to go with its proposals. 

Based on a model already in place at a nursery in Hackney, Grasshoppers in the Park, tiered pricing will be available so the cost of places will depend on income. 

Parents and staff, all to be equal members of the Co-op, will all have a say in decisions from where money goes if there’s a profit to what food there is for lunch. 

And if parents are “time rich but cash poor”, they can be an extra adult on school trip or offer their skills as an accountant, for example, to pay even less for their child’s space. 

The nursery would serve Thurlow Park and Gipsy Hill Wards, offering nearly 100 spaces when up to full capacity.  

Parent and member Christina Upjohn, who is qualified to management level in early years and has two children of nursery age, could not afford to go to work after the Cherry Tree closed.  

She said: “My whole paycheck would have been gone on childcare […] it should be affordable for everyone.  

“And with our nursery parents can take ownership, parents can have a vote on their child’s education.” 

Cllr Birley said although people may have a different impression of the leafy area, “there is a lot of hidden poverty and inequality around here”.  

“There are houses worth £1 million but some are owned by housing associations and are divided into five to eight flats.  

“Then the next door neighbour could own the whole house,” she said.  

While researching the Co-op, now a registered charity trust, found a demand for affordable childcare in the area, as well as community activities such as dance, language and yoga classes which could help fund the nursery.  

And it estimates the cost could be up to £500 cheaper than the privately run nurseries nearby.  

“For a two-year-old in full-time care, a private provider is typically £300 to £500 more expensive per month than Cherry Tree.  

“For a three-year-old in full-time care, it’s £200 to £300 per month more expensive than Cherry Tree, even taking into account the 15 or 30 hours free childcare government allowance,” according to the plan.  

If Lambeth offers the lease, the Co-op is hoping to pay peppercorn rent like the trust previously, but have planned ahead if not. 

At the moment there are guardians living in the building to ward off squatters.   

Parent Joel Reid said: “We’re trying to keep it strictly relevant to finance rather than rosily talking about the humanistic mission, although that’s very important.  

“In pure terms of cash they are right now hemorrhaging vast amounts.” 

The Co-op anticipates that one of the biggest obstacles in its way is “persuading a council whose budgets has been slashed” to take a chance on a community group that is not going to pay market rent. 

“We’re trying to make the case around it being quite holistic. 

“You get more people into work because they can afford their childcare, their kids have a better start in life, also you’re taking people out of the benefits system and creating a more productive work force.  

“There are all sorts of knock-on impacts but it doesn’t show up immediately on a balance sheet,” Cllr Birley said.  

According to the group it’s not just about providing affordable childcare, but bringing a community together.  

Joel said: “Projects that allow all the elements of the community to come together are few and far between.  

“If we don’t have projects like this then we are going to become ever more segregated even though we are living next door to each other.” 

If the Co-op is granted the lease and makes a success of the nursery, it hopes to be an example to others at a time when hundreds of nurseries are closing every month.  

The deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Jennifer Brathwaite, has backed the nursery, but it’s still up to the full council to decide.  

After Christina made a deputation on February 12 to full council on behalf of the Co-op, cabinet member for finance and performance Cllr Andy Wilson said they hoped to make a decision as soon as possible.