Motion for Support of the Dundee University Nursery

Introduction

The University’s current financial position has resulted in significant cuts across campus services. One area particularly affected has been the Dundee University Nursery.
The Nursery has long been a vital part of the University community, supporting staff and students by providing accessible, high-quality childcare on campus. Recent reductions in staffing and capacity, combined with uncertainty regarding its future beyond August 2026, have caused considerable concern among student parents and staff.
Dundee UCU has launched a public petition calling on the University to commit to properly funding and supporting the Nursery. This motion asks the Student Representative Council (SRC) to formally and publicly support the Dundee University Nursery and to stand in solidarity with those affected by the current uncertainty.

General information

In January 2026, Dundee UCU launched a petition via Change.org calling for public support for the Dundee University Nursery: https://www.change.org/p/support-dundee-university-
nursery. The petition urges the University to commit to maintaining, staffing, and properly funding the Nursery during the ongoing financial crisis.
For decades, the Nursery has provided high-quality childcare to staff and students, forming an essential part of the University’s support infrastructure. While the Nursery played no role in the financial crisis facing the institution, it has nonetheless been affected by subsequent cost-cutting measures and senior management decisions.

As a result:
•⁠ ⁠The number of nursery staff has been reduced.
•⁠ ⁠The number of children the Nursery is able to accommodate has decreased.
•⁠ ⁠The Principal has not confirmed whether the Nursery will remain open beyond August 2026.

This uncertainty disproportionately affects student parents, particularly those who rely on campus-based childcare to continue their studies. Without reliable and accessible childcare, some students may face barriers to attendance, progression, and completion of their degrees.
Within the DUSA Executive, discussions have already taken place regarding the threat facing the Nursery, and we have signed this petition. There is a shared view that public support is both necessary and appropriate.

The Nursery does not simply provide childcare; it enables participation. Supporting it is therefore not only about protecting a service for children, but about safeguarding access to education for student parents and upholding the University’s commitments to widening access, equality, and inclusion.

As the elected representatives of Dundee students, the SRC has a responsibility to advocate for services that materially impact students’ ability to engage in their education.
On-campus childcare is a core component of an inclusive university environment. Students with caring responsibilities are already more likely to experience financial strain, time pressure, and structural barriers within higher education. The loss or further reduction of the Nursery would intensify these challenges.

Public support from the SRC would:
•⁠ ⁠Demonstrate solidarity with student parents and staff.
•⁠ ⁠Reinforce DUSA’s commitment to equality and widening access.
•⁠ ⁠Signal to the University that childcare provision is an essential service, not an expendable one.
•⁠ ⁠Encourage broader student awareness and engagement with the issue.
By taking a clear position, the SRC affirms that students with caring responsibilities must not bear the consequences of institutional financial decisions in which they had no part.

Conclusion + Motion

The Dundee University Nursery is an essential, long-standing part of our campus community. Its continued operation directly supports student wellbeing, retention, and equitable access to education.
In a period of institutional instability, it is particularly important that students stand in solidarity with those most affected. Supporting the Nursery is consistent with DUSA’s values and with the SRC’s role as the voice of the student body.
A clear and public endorsement from the SR would provide meaningful backing to the campaign, reassure student parents that their needs are being represented, and call upon the University to commit to the long-term future of this vital service.

The Student Representative Council resolves to:
•⁠ ⁠Publicly endorse the campaign to support the Dundee University Nursery.
•⁠ ⁠Release an official statement expressing support for the Nursery and calling on the University to commit to its continued operation and adequate funding beyond August 2026.
•⁠ ⁠Actively promote the Dundee UCU petition through appropriate communication channels.
•⁠ ⁠Work with relevant stakeholders, including Dundee UCU and student parents, to raise awareness of the Nursery value and monitor developments concerning its future.
•⁠ ⁠Reaffirm our commitment to supporting student parents and protecting essential services that enable equitable participation in university life.

Legacy Timeline

January 2026 – Dundee UCU releases petition to support the Dundee University Nursery.
February 2026 – SRC votes to publicly support the Dundee University Nursery.
March 2026 – Official SRC statement released; petition actively promoted.
Beyond – Continued monitoring of developments and advocacy in defence of the Nursery and student parents.