SOME parents are furious that nursery placements announced for the 2020-21 session will see siblings split-up, and in one case, a Ballingry youngster moved from a local nursery to Lochgelly's Sunflower.

Much of the disappointment expressed comes from parents whose kids have been at St Kenneth's Nursery, and are set to have to go to different places in August.

Adelle Howieson, from Ballingry, commented: "Fife Council need to stand up and publicly explain to each and every parent why their children have been let down by the education system.

"Our pre school children, who should be going into final year of nursery prior to school, have now been moved from the nurseries they already attended and placed elsewhere, even though some of them have siblings and live closer and younger kids who will not attend school till 2022, have been allocated places within the school nursery.

"My son was an April 2020 intake with him being a late birthday so was only going to get a year and a few months of nursery. He was no not able to start in April due to pandemic and now he has been punished even further with younger kids benefitting from full day nursery while he has been allocated for half days (not term time) which means while his brothers are on school holidays he must attend nursery or miss out on hours".

Kirsty Fyfe, from Hill of Beath, said: "Fife Council this year has made a huge mistake, my son has spent a year at Hill of Beath nursery and his sister attends the school.

"He is now expected to complete his second year at Crossgates Nursery. So both kids are 9 till 3 at two different schools, no one can be in two places at once. Where is this putting the child's best interests first. I am disgusted that they can even attempt to do this to a child aged 4".

Another unhappy Benarty parent, Jamie-Lee Rafferty said: "My daughter Gracie Beveridge was at St Kenneth's nursery, in Ballingry, from January 2020 until the pandemic began and the nursery closed! I have received Gracie’s letter today with her new allocation of Sunflower Nursery Lochgelly! I would understand a new allocation in a different nursery still within Ballingry! BUT to move my 3 year old daughter to another nursery in a different town I really don’t understand how this decision was made!"

Laura Maxwell, from Ballingry, said: "To say that I am unhappy is a huge understatement. Myself and siblings have all attended St Kenneth's and my son went to that nursery and now attends the school.

"I applied last year for my daughter's nursery place and she started in January. I was then told a few months ago that I would have to re-apply, which I wasn't happy about but did. Now I receive a letter stating that she no longer has her placement and is on a waiting list. No alternative place has been offered either.

"It is absolutely diabolical what is happening to these kids, with all the upset they are already dealing with to now do this to them is a disgrace".

Conservative Councillor for Cowdenbeath, Darren Watt, has expressed concerns about the recent nursery allocations throughout the Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly area.

Councillor Watt said; "It appears everybody's got a price but not their preferred choice of placements and it's clear there's been a overwhelming breakdown in fundamental communication between parents, the schools, nurseries and Fife Council's Education Department.

"Although I've been assured by a senior education officer from Fife Council that the process for allocating places is fair and transparent, it's clear parents throughout Fife feel it's not and doesn't fully take into consideration families individual circumstances, particularly the general health and well-being of the children themselves.

"St Kenneth's in Ballingry seems to be affected the most with one parent telling me most children will be uprooted and moved.

"It is incredibly sad to hear how so many children and families will be severely impacted. This is a stressful and worrying time as it is without the added uncertainty and confusion around nursery placements. It's certainly going to be extremely challenging for some parents to manage juggling work, other siblings and additional travel."

Head of Education and Children’s Services, Shelagh McLean, commented: “We have faced unprecedented challenges while allocating nursery places this year.

“The current global pandemic has disrupted plans to phase in 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare but we are continuing to progress these plans across Fife where possible from August.

“It’s important to stress that, despite these challenges, 5,500 children have nursery places to start in August and almost 95% of those children have been given either their first or second choices.

“We have done our best to make sure there are at least three different options in each nursery area. However, we understand that some parents will not be happy with the allocation they have received. Unfortunately it’s just not possible to give everyone exactly what was asked for, and there is no ideal solution which will be suitable for every family and their needs.

“We will work through any appeals as quickly as possible. Our staff are doing the best they can under difficult circumstances and we ask that parents bear with us while we deal with this work.

“We will also continue to engage with partners in the private and voluntary sectors, as well as childminders, to deliver funded early learning and childcare on behalf of Fife Council. Families are asked to make direct contact with private nurseries and playgroups if they wish to apply to use ELC funding with them.”

Parents with any questions regarding nursery placements should contact the Early Years Team: EarlyYears.Manager@fife.gov.uk