Stoke-on-Trent's only council-maintained nursery school could be closed due to it costing too much money.

Bentilee Nursery School has been running at a loss for four years, with its deficit reaching £185,710 in 2024/25, despite efforts to reduce costs.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is now proposing to cease maintaining the facility, with extra nursery places being provided at local primary schools instead.

A nursery for children with specialist educational needs or disabilities (SEND), to be run by an independent provider or academy trust, could then be established on the Bentilee Nursery School site at Bentilee Family Hub.

Council leaders say these steps will ensure the future of nursery provision in Bentilee, while meeting demand for SEND nursery places. But most people who responded to an informal consultation said they were against the idea of the council no longer maintaining the nursery school.

Cabinet members are expected to agree to a formal consultation on the proposals when they meet on Tuesday, 21 April. The council insists that no final decision on the plans has been taken.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services, said: "We are committed to protecting the future of high-quality early years provision in Bentilee.

"Every child deserves the best start in life, and these proposals will ensure early services will continue to be delivered in the community, whilst specialist SEND provision at nursery level is increased – this will mean all children get the right support they need to thrive."

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According to the report to cabinet, maintained nursery schools are struggling financially across the country, as they have to operate as a school, with a headteacher and qualified staff, but with fewer pupils, which means less funding.

A total of 53 children, aged from two to four, are currently accessing places at Bentilee Nursery School.

The council predicts that the nursery school's deficit will increase to £340,136 by 2027/28, despite a recovery plan having been in place for the past three years.

Under the council's plans, the provision at Bentilee Nursery School would be accommodated at nearby Eaton Park Academy and Maple Court Academy, both run by Alpha Academies Trust. Eaton Park and Maple Court already offer nursery provision for three and four-year-olds.

The council says that 59 per cent of pupils at Bentilee Nursery School currently move on to one of these primary schools, meaning they would not be disadvantaged by the proposals.

An informal consultation carried out in January and February asked people whether they supported the idea of provision being delivered by an academy or third-party. Fifteen out of 26 respondents said they did not support this proposal, while nine were in favour.

The cabinet report says that parents and staff 'tended be positive about current provision and were against or cautious of change'.

But the report claims that taking steps to avoid the 'unsustainable financial operation' of the nursery school is preferable to maintaining the status quo, as provision can be continued on the Alpha Academies sites.

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The informal consultation also generated interest in the provision of SEND early years provision on the Bentilee Nursery School site, which the council says would meet 'a definite local need'.

Once the formal consultation on the proposals has been carried out, a further report will be brought to cabinet for a final decision in July.