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Parents win Rhondda Cynon Taf nursery cuts legal fight Parents win Rhondda Cynon Taf nursery cuts legal fight
(35 minutes later)
Parents campaigning against cuts to nursery provision in Rhondda Cynon Taf have won the latest stage of their battle at the High Court in London.Parents campaigning against cuts to nursery provision in Rhondda Cynon Taf have won the latest stage of their battle at the High Court in London.
Parents Against the Cuts to Education in RCT sought a judicial review after a council decision to end full-time nursery education for younger children.Parents Against the Cuts to Education in RCT sought a judicial review after a council decision to end full-time nursery education for younger children.
It decided to offer part-time schooling for three-year olds and full-time from the age of four as part of budget cuts.It decided to offer part-time schooling for three-year olds and full-time from the age of four as part of budget cuts.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has the right to appeal against the decision. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has the right to appeal against the ruling.
It is understood the basis of the judgement is that the council acted unlawfully because it breached its statutory duties in the way it reached its decision, failing to consider key issues.
These included failing to consider those statutory duties and not asking what a sufficient level of nursery education was, or whether there would be enough affordable childcare under the changes.
The plan to raise the age for full-time education to four, in line with many other Welsh councils, caused an outcry from parents.The plan to raise the age for full-time education to four, in line with many other Welsh councils, caused an outcry from parents.
Jo Caddy, one of the campaigners who travelled to London to hear the judgment, said: "It's hard to describe, it's absolutely awesome, a lot of hard work and effort gone into this. Jo Caddy, one of the campaigners who travelled to London to hear the judgment, said: "It's hard to describe, it's absolutely awesome, a lot of hard work and effort has gone into this.
"We wanted to be here to hear this. It's exceptionally important. There's nothing more important than children's education. We all believe strongly the council acted inappropriately." "We wanted to be here to hear this. It's exceptionally important.
"There's nothing more important than children's education. We all believe strongly the council acted inappropriately."
'Steamroller''Steamroller'
Another campaigner, Paula Webb, said she was delighted by the decision.Another campaigner, Paula Webb, said she was delighted by the decision.
"It will ensure my son is able to continue the great educational progress he is already making," she said."It will ensure my son is able to continue the great educational progress he is already making," she said.
"He is more than ready for full-time education and anything else would have undermined his learning and development."He is more than ready for full-time education and anything else would have undermined his learning and development.
"And it gives me hope of undertaking vocational training so that I can return to work.""And it gives me hope of undertaking vocational training so that I can return to work."
Plaid Cymru leader and South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood said it was "a great day for people power".Plaid Cymru leader and South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood said it was "a great day for people power".
"The parents against the cuts group was brave and took a big financial risk by standing up to the Labour-controlled local authority that wanted to steamroller through some damaging education cuts without listening to local people. "The parents against the cuts group was brave and took a big financial risk by standing up to the Labour-controlled local authority that wanted to steamroller through some damaging education cuts without listening to local people."
"I offer them warm congratulations on their excellent victory. Liberal Democrat South Wales Central AM Eluned Parrott said: "Education is a passport to a better life for our young people, and we cannot jeopardise the future of our children at such a young age."
"Anyone who attended the many public meetings, council meetings or engaged in the consultation exercise could see that the process was not right."
The council said it would not comment until it had time to consider the ruling.The council said it would not comment until it had time to consider the ruling.