Pre-school of Excellence, a nursery in Kilburn for children from birth to five years old, including those with special educational needs (SEN), fears its annual sports day scheduled for July 9 may be cancelled because the South Kilburn open space it uses is overgrown. The nursery described the possibility of children missing the event as “upsetting,” while Brent Council has assured the space will be cleared this week.
Nursery and parents try last-minute DIY solution
Staff and parents are “desperately trying” to clear a small section of grass themselves to save the sports day. Jennifer Mair, mother of a non-verbal autistic child at the nursery, said travelling to another park is not a simple alternative for SEND children. She and other parents are attempting to do the maintenance work so the event can go ahead.
“Our nearby open spaces matter enormously because travelling through busy roads and unfamiliar environments can itself present a serious safety barrier,” Mair said. “We will be there today attempting to cut the grass ourselves so that the children do not lose their sports day.”
Council blames weather for higher-than-expected growth
A Brent Council spokesperson said the grass at South Kilburn Open Space will be cleared this week “in time for the nursery’s annual sports day.” They added: “The area is maintained on a regular schedule having last been tended to three weeks ago, but high temperatures and heavy rains have led to higher-than-expected growth.”
The nursery spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We're very disappointed that the South Kilburn open space is so overgrown, as we hold our annual sports day here about the same time every year and it isn't suitable for tomorrow's event.”
Campaign for interim maintenance plan
Mair, who also runs Autism Places CIC, a Brent-based community organisation, said the regeneration of South Kilburn has stalled due to financial difficulties, impacting children and families. She announced a local campaign called “Safe Spaces While We Wait,” calling for an interim safety, maintenance and accessibility plan for the open space and the routes children use to access it.
“We are not asking for the regeneration programme to be completed overnight,” she said. “We are asking for children growing up in South Kilburn today to have a safe, maintained and practically usable local space while they wait.”
