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Humza Yousaf complaint against Dundee nursery upheld | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The couple spoke in August after they made a complaint about the nursery | The couple spoke in August after they made a complaint about the nursery |
A formal complaint made by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf about a nursery he accused of discriminating against his daughter has been upheld. | A formal complaint made by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf about a nursery he accused of discriminating against his daughter has been upheld. |
The Care Inspectorate found that Little Scholars in Broughty Ferry "did not promote fairness, equality and respect" when offering placements. | The Care Inspectorate found that Little Scholars in Broughty Ferry "did not promote fairness, equality and respect" when offering placements. |
Mr Yousaf and his wife say they were told there was no space for their child but said applicants with "white Scottish-sounding names" were accepted. | Mr Yousaf and his wife say they were told there was no space for their child but said applicants with "white Scottish-sounding names" were accepted. |
The nursery has denied the accusations. | The nursery has denied the accusations. |
A spokeswoman for the nursery said: "Whilst the Care Inspectorate found our admission procedure could be improved, this had nothing to do with discrimination or equality. | A spokeswoman for the nursery said: "Whilst the Care Inspectorate found our admission procedure could be improved, this had nothing to do with discrimination or equality. |
"Within a few days of becoming aware of Mr Yousaf and Ms El-Nakla's complaint, we reviewed and updated our system for dealing with admissions." | "Within a few days of becoming aware of Mr Yousaf and Ms El-Nakla's complaint, we reviewed and updated our system for dealing with admissions." |
A statement from the solicitor of Mr Yousaf and Nadia El-Nakla said the couple felt "vindicated" by the Care Inspectorate ruling. | |
It said: "They are first and foremost loving parents who would do anything to protect their children. | |
"Humza and Nadia were left deeply upset when they believed their young daughter Amal was being discriminated against and that is why they took action they did." | |
Minister reports nursery over discrimination fears | Minister reports nursery over discrimination fears |
Minister launches legal action against nursery | Minister launches legal action against nursery |
When Mr Yousaf's wife Nadia El-Nakla applied for a space for the couple's two-year-old daughter, Amal, she said she was told there was no availability. | When Mr Yousaf's wife Nadia El-Nakla applied for a space for the couple's two-year-old daughter, Amal, she said she was told there was no availability. |
But the couple said applications submitted by friends and family for "white Scottish-sounding names" were accepted. | But the couple said applications submitted by friends and family for "white Scottish-sounding names" were accepted. |
Speaking at the time he reported the nursery in August, Mr Yousaf told the BBC: "I'm really upset that at the age of two, my daughter, though she's oblivious to it all, has suffered discrimination. | Speaking at the time he reported the nursery in August, Mr Yousaf told the BBC: "I'm really upset that at the age of two, my daughter, though she's oblivious to it all, has suffered discrimination. |
"Tell us why three Muslim-sounding families were rejected and in some cases, less than 24 hours later, white Scottish families were accepted. | "Tell us why three Muslim-sounding families were rejected and in some cases, less than 24 hours later, white Scottish families were accepted. |
"There can be no reasonable explanation for that, and if there is one, then tell it to us. | "There can be no reasonable explanation for that, and if there is one, then tell it to us. |
"But so far, the nursery has failed to do so." | "But so far, the nursery has failed to do so." |
The nursery has previously denied allegations of discrimination | The nursery has previously denied allegations of discrimination |
A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: "We have upheld a complaint in relation to this matter. | A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: "We have upheld a complaint in relation to this matter. |
"We found that the service did not promote fairness, equality and respect when offering placements. | "We found that the service did not promote fairness, equality and respect when offering placements. |
"Every child in Scotland has the right to good quality care that meets their needs and respects their rights." | "Every child in Scotland has the right to good quality care that meets their needs and respects their rights." |
"We have identified areas for improvement and we will follow up on these to check on progress. | "We have identified areas for improvement and we will follow up on these to check on progress. |
"We continue to monitor this service. If we are not satisfied that the improvements required have been met, we will not hesitate to take further action." | "We continue to monitor this service. If we are not satisfied that the improvements required have been met, we will not hesitate to take further action." |
'No available spaces' | 'No available spaces' |
Following the initial concerns from Mr Yousaf and his wife, a Daily Record investigation submitted applications with identical requirements to the nursery under the names Aqsa Akhtar and Susan Blake. | Following the initial concerns from Mr Yousaf and his wife, a Daily Record investigation submitted applications with identical requirements to the nursery under the names Aqsa Akhtar and Susan Blake. |
The newspaper said Aqsa Akhtar had her application rejected, but Susan Blake's was accepted and offered spaces. | The newspaper said Aqsa Akhtar had her application rejected, but Susan Blake's was accepted and offered spaces. |
Ms El-Nakla said she had emailed nursery bosses in May, asking if there were any available places. | Ms El-Nakla said she had emailed nursery bosses in May, asking if there were any available places. |
The couple alleged they were told there were "no available spaces in the nursery" - the second time they said they had been turned down. | The couple alleged they were told there were "no available spaces in the nursery" - the second time they said they had been turned down. |
But they claimed that two days later when a white friend asked if there were spaces for her two-year-old son, the nursery told her places were available on three afternoons a week. | But they claimed that two days later when a white friend asked if there were spaces for her two-year-old son, the nursery told her places were available on three afternoons a week. |
Little Scholars Day Nursery said back in August that any claim that it was not open and inclusive to all was "demonstrably false". | Little Scholars Day Nursery said back in August that any claim that it was not open and inclusive to all was "demonstrably false". |
It said that its owners were of Asian heritage and it had regularly welcomed children and staff from a range of backgrounds "including two Muslim families currently". | It said that its owners were of Asian heritage and it had regularly welcomed children and staff from a range of backgrounds "including two Muslim families currently". |