A protest is being planned outside Leicestershire's county hall over proposed closures of SEND nurseries.

The protest has received cross-party support from Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat councillors, who have called the proposed closures "a real danger" to children and parents.

The Reform-led authority recently launched a consultation to close four specialist SEND nurseries in the county and offer more funding to mainstream nurseries instead.

If approved, the council would no longer commission SEND places at Sketchley Hill Menphys Nursery School in Hinckley, Wigston Menphys Nursery School in Wigston, Oasis Retreat in Melton Mowbray, and Lift Beacon in Loughborough.

It follows the authority being asked to rethink its plans in a Lib Dem motion during a full council meeting last Wednesday, February 18.

A protest is being launched outside Leicestershire County Council offices next Tuesday, March 3, which is set to include parents and councillors voicing their opposition to the plans.

Conservative opposition leader Cllr Deborah Taylor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she hoped that the protest would see "a good crowd turn up" of parents and councillors, while adding that she wanted the closure plans withdrawn.

She said: "I don't think mainstream nurseries will be able to manage all of those children in specialist nurseries.

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"I think it's wishful thinking that they [mainstream nurseries] can pick this all up, and my concern is that those children will stay at home.

"I think there's a compromise to be looked at but a full closure isn't the way forward.

"For me, it's not about numbers [at the protest], it's about getting our message out there that this has upset a lot of people".

Labour county councillor Jewel Miah also said he supported the protest, calling the planned closures "a real danger" and "important that people had their voices heard".

He said: "These nurseries are valuable for the children that attend them including their parents. We want to make it about them and the service that's provided.

"If these nurseries are shelved, it'll be very difficult for parents to get the level of help they need. Leicestershire County Council have received increased funding from the central government and has decided to put that money into reserves, but they are still looking to do cuts like this".

Green councillor Naomi Bottomley also said she "had every intention" of going to the planned protest.

She told the LDRS: "I'm wholeheartedly against the plans. My gut when I first saw the proposal was I couldn't see how this could work.

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"I'll reserve judgment before I've seen the evidence and data on how they will get this to work, and they haven't provided it, and I've been asking for weeks, if not months, and they haven't been forthcoming at all.

"This is too important to worry about party politics at this point".

Meanwhile, Lib Dem councillor Michael Mullaney said he also supported the planned protest.

He said: "I think there will be a change of policy from the leadership. Plenty of people have written in to oppose the plans.

"I support any parents and families at the protest and I'm sure there will probably be Liberal Democrat councillors at the protest as well.

"The question is, when are they going to announce the U-turn? I think it's going to come soon."

Cllr Charles Pugsley, lead member for children and families at Leicestershire County Council, said: "We understand this is an important issue for families and appreciate the many comments and views that have been shared.

"This consultation has enabled us to listen to everyone affected, including parents, carers, staff and our partners, and we are now considering these responses carefully.

"We're grateful to everyone who took the time to engage with the consultation and to share their experiences with us."