However, that appears to be the case for the Uni-Tots nursery, which has been housed in the University of Edinburgh¡¯s psychology department for 40 years.

A letter from Frank Gribben, registrar of the College of Humanities and Social Science, says the space is ¡°urgently required¡± by the department in part because of the ¡°potential impact on success in the Research Exercise Framework (REF) [sic] and these developments are now pressing¡±.

It says nursery provision will be moved to the university¡¯s King¡¯s Buildings, about two miles south of the city centre and the current site.

Iulia Toch, who has a child at Uni-Tots, expressed concerns about the extra travel and quality. ¡°They are planning to have a bigger nursery, whereas this one has 20 to 30 [children], which makes [for] a very good educational environment.¡±

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The REF will score projects on their real-world ¡°impact¡±, which can include ¡°improved access to¡­opportunities (including employment and education)¡±.

Edinburgh, which would not comment on the letter, stressed that there had been no decision on Uni-Tots and that any change would be to take in more children and to ¡°accommodate a growing and thriving Psychology Department¡±, not the REF.

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¡°The demands of the Research Excellence Framework exercise will not impact on the future of Uni-Tots,¡± a spokesman said.

david.matthews@tsleducation.com.