Nursery suddenly closing - not followed procedure

[Anyoneknowanything1]

Just after some advice really. My 1 year old started nursery 1st Sept. I'm back to work and we have no option for me not to. MIL does 1 day a week care for us. Same nursery we used for my oldest - know all the staff and they are amazing. Private I think but does offer funded hours. I'm not sure on the difference between private nurseries and not private. Really convenient and has loads of uptake.

Anyway. The nursery chain was taken over by another chain in July. Got a letter this week to say they are permanently closing end of Oct and the chn/staff MAY be given a space at another nursery in the chain. They haven't informed the local authority or consulted parents or anything they should have done. The staff were informed half an hour before parents and there was no assessment done to justify losing the nursery. The local schools are in uproar as their staff are losing their childcare so can't work, plus everyone has to wait 2 weeks to see if they are being given a space at a different nursery. Preschool age is fine as there are loads of local spaces but literally no local nurseries have baby spaces! I will also need to extend hours to allow for more travel time. The headteachers have informed the LA who are investigating but is there literally anything else I could do?!?!

It's a purpose built nursery and the LA say there HAS to be a nursery there - could they make them stay open until a new company is found?

I really struggled with PND with both my girls but my transition back in was going so well, only to be faced with uprooting my poor baby and putting her in longer than I want/planned. Plus the cost will tip us closer to the edge.

Any advice or experience appreciated x

i’d try and get together with another parent at the nursery and ask one of the current staff to nanny for you both - as a nanny share.

it may be more expensive in the short term, but it’s a solution whilst you find another nursery.

To be honest, there’s nothing you can do other than wait to see if there will be a space for your little one or you look elsewhere. This is happening more and more frequently as settings are finding it hard to stay open. If it’s a private nursery, no one can force them to stay open.

Have you looked at childminders in your area?

Childminders are unfortunately in short supply and my MIL can't do any more (she's 70 and cares for her other grandchildren several days a week also).

I'm confused.... why would they consult parents? It's a private business, they can close if they want to....

It's a private business so they can close without consulting parents, just as any other business can close if they want to or need to. They do need to do proper redundancy processes with staff though.

I understand how difficult it will be to find alternative care, I wouldn't wait to see if they offer you a space anywhere else I'd start ringing round the other nurseries and local childminders now. As you'll be in direct competition with all the parents in the same boat.

Sadly this is the way it’s going the governments funded hours do not cover costs and nursery, childminders and LA run nursery/ preschools are closing at a steady pace. It was the main reason I closed my childminding business, it’s only going to get worse if / when the governments funded hours from 9 months kicks in . As a private business the LA can not force them to stay open and they do not need to consult with the LA or Parents before closing. If the LA want a nursery there they will have to set one up , but this is likely to be after the other one has closed. You are lucky they have given you notice and time to find alternative care, where I live some just close over night no warning.