A MUM whose children attended Susan Isaacs nursery is campaigning to keep the closure-threatened school open.

The council-run nursery is earmarked for closure after town hall and nursery bosses pointed to financial pressures and falling numbers.

Justine Shepherd, aged 43, is so upset with the proposals she has joined the campaign to fight it – even though her children left more than a decade ago.

Mrs Shepherd, who lives with her family in Middle Hulton, said: “My son George has autism and he was moved from a nursery and placed in Susan Isaacs Nursery where he was given access to speech and language therapist and other resources.

“His development progressed no end. He is now 16-years-old and is at Rumworth School, where he has taken some GCSEs.

“If it wasn’t for the development he received at Susan Isaacs Nursery I don’t think would have ever taken his GCSEs. My daughter Anna also went there, she has just started Harper Green.

“The staff there are just brilliant, you could not find a more nurturing or caring group of people.

“My children left a long time ago, but I still in touch with the staff, the nursery becomes like a family to you.

“There are always there to listen to parents and are always there for the children.”

She is helping to organise a petition against the proposals.

Mrs Shepherd said: “There is not a chance the nursery will close. As long as there is breath in my body the nursery will not close.

“Early years education for children is crucial for children and I don’t understand why it should close.”

Campaigners are urging people to take part in the consultation before the council and nursery make a final decision on the nursery’s future.

Mrs Shepherd, who is hoping to gather signatures in the town centre, said: “I think we will get enough signatures to make a difference.

“A lot of people have a lot of time for the nursery school because many children went there, and people who I have told about the proposed closure have said ‘it can’t close’.

"There is a real strength of feeling against the closure.”

Trade unions in Bolton are challenging the proposed closure and are demanding facts and figures to back up the claims that the nursery’s future viability is at risk.

Bolton Council currently consulting on the proposals and those wishing to take part need to let their views be known in writing by October 23, after which a final report will be considered by the council and decision on the future of nursery will be made.