School in Oldham calls on council to stop using it as a polling station

Glodwick Infant and Nursery School in Oldham has complained to the council about its nursery being used as a polling station.

The Chairman of governors Lynn Moran has put in a formal complaint to Oldham Council, saying children in one of the country's most deprived areas are losing a ‘precious’ day of education.

Due to the EU referendum, the school was made to close twice to become a polling station this year.

Lynn Moran said in her letter: "It seems such an anomaly to close a school in one of the most deprived wards in the authority (and even the country), resulting in vulnerable children losing a precious day of learning.

"The head and her staff take a very firm line on pupil absence to ensure continuity of learning, so how do we justify to these same parents that the local authority can close a school?"

The School has also cited staff time and costs as a concern, branding the £100 compensation it receives from the local authority a "pittance".

The Council has responded by saying that the suitability of the school as a polling station will be reviewed.