Nursery closures

[sallycinamon]

I have just found out that my daughter's lovely nursery is closing in 6 weeks. This is because the Local Authority is enforcing the Code of Practice which says that nurseries are no longer allowed to 'top-up' the pre-school funding for 3/4 year olds by asking for a contribution from parents. Basically the funding they get for the 'free' sessions does not cover the cost of actually delivering the session.

I know it sounds over-dramatic (there are worse things that could happen i know!) but I am so upset about it. DD has been so happy there. It provides excellent child care, the staff are wonderful, it is always oversubscribed and has a local reputation which is second to none. It came as such a shock to everyone. I feel sorry for the staff. It is also now proving very stressful finding alternative child care arrangements at such short notice.

Have any other mumsnetters had a similar experience?

Thanks - I have done - I am not opening til feb (if at all) so don't woryy about the time scale

Seems to be randomly applied. I know of a private nursery in Sutton which operated in term-time school hours and that has now shut due to the new regs. The business effectively got taken ovwer by a private school in a neighbouring borough which doesn't seem to be enforcing the rules as much, so the school just knocks £539.50 of the fees each term.

I do find it scarey that this move seem to reduce paretnal choice so much. This areas has previously suffered when the funding for 3 year olds was not given to all nurseries in the borough, just in taargeted areas. Together with a somewhat uneven approach by Ofsted I pity the playgroup/nursery owners.