St Anne’s College has announced that its nursery, the first college nursery at Oxford University established to support women academics, will close after 63 years.
The children’s facility was founded in 1963 to provide childcare for members of the college and has since become an important part of college life.
Trustees agreed to end the service after the Christmas break, on December 18.
The decision followed a detailed external expert assessment of the nursery’s operations and financial sustainability, together with discussions at the college’s final governing body meeting.
Principal Helen King said the decision had been reached with sadness and reflected a determination to develop more equitable and flexible childcare support for present and future members with childcare responsibilities.
King also thanked current and former nursery staff for their care and commitment to children and families.
She recognised the work of those who served as Nursery Fellows or participated in the Nursery Committee.
When the nursery began, female academics did not have access to maternity leave, sex-equality legislation or flexible working arrangements.
The governing body said the nursery now faced increasingly difficult pressures, including heavier regulatory, safeguarding and governance requirements for early-years providers, difficulties recruiting and retaining staff, and the cost of operating a 12-place facility under a model requiring growing levels of subsidy.
Trustees noted that childcare provision had changed substantially during the nursery’s 63 years and that University members could now choose from a broader selection of flexible and affordable services.
Oxford University has also developed a network of larger specialist nursery providers that offer another option for St Anne’s families.
The college is working with affected families during the transition and is helping parents identify other childcare arrangements.
A spokesperson said St Anne’s would continue supporting college families while trustees developed proposals for future assistance designed to be equitable, sustainable and beneficial to academics, students and staff.
Any additional measures would complement the college’s maternity, paternity and parental leave policies, which already align with University provision.
Oxford University grants eligible employees 52 weeks of maternity leave and has offered enhanced additional paternity or partner leave for periods of up to 12 weeks since January last year.