PLANS to axe places for babies and toddlers up to two at a Rowley nursery have been scrapped in the wake of strong opposition.

Rowley Hall Primary School governors agreed at a meeting last night not to press ahead with proposals to bring the Rowley Owls Nursery in line with the rest of the school following poor Ofsted inspections.

The nursery was judged "inadequate" by Ofsted in February, when the manager was on maternity leave and five months later was deemed to "require improvement".

Proposals were put forward by governors to reduce opening times to term-time only and only take children from aged two and above.

But the decision to scrap the plan followed feedback gathered during a consultation where the school asked for opinions from staff, parents and councillors.

School support staff union the GMB launched a petition opposing the changes which attracted more than 350 signatures and regional organiser Gill Whittaker accused the governors of a "knee jerk" reaction to the Ofsted reports.

She said Rowley Owls, which currently shares premises on the school site with the Happy Faces Children's Centre, had shown rapid improvement in a short time following the manager's return and there was no other 0-2 nursery provision in the area.

Rowley Hall Primary headteacher Nicola Stanley said: "The proposal was put forward by governors in a bid to improve standards in the nursery following feedback from Ofsted.

"We have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback we have received from parents with children in the nursery.

"It seems parents and children really love what we are doing and want to keep the nursery as it is.

"Ofsted have recognised we are improving but we still have some way to go to make improvements to the nursery.

"Now this decision has been made, the nursery can get on with implementing changes to improve standards."

Amanda Gearing, GMB regional officer, described the news as “brilliant”.

“The next 12 months will be spent working with our members in the nursery to improve standards ready for the next Ofsted report.

“GMB would like to thank all the public and members of staff for supporting our campaign."