Parents' surprise at closure of Telford nursery
Parents of children at a £600-a-month nursery in Telford were today told that the centre is to close at the end of July.
Families received letters this morning informing them that the nursery at Thomas Telford School would shut on July 31. Its closure will mean many families are left without childcare provision.
The news came just two weeks after the school backed down over plans to close for three weeks at Easter for a refurbishment.
Jo Davis, spokeswoman for Thomas Telford School, said the decision had been made after 'extensive discussions' with the school governing board at its termly meeting last week and had been made because the site was no longer suitable to meet Government standards.
Parents said they have tried to contact the school's head Sir Kevin Satchwell, but have been told 'no comment'.
Kirsty Smallman, from Lawley Village in Telford, who has two children at the nursery, which she said employs five staff, said: "I'm absolutely fuming. The management has let parents down.
"There's been a complete lack of communication. We opened this letter this morning, but there will be parents collecting their children today who won't have had their post yet and won't know. They should have told us face to face.
"I'm now left without childcare."
But Ms Davis said: "Following expert advice, it is clear that our facility needs to be relocated to provide the essential adjacent outdoor learning environment to satisfy new Early Years Foundation Stage statutory requirements.
"The current location is inadequate because the nearest outdoor learning environment to the nursery presents health and safety issues of children crossing the car park to gain access.
"Alternatives, including relocation within the site have been considered but the cost would be prohibitive.
"Governors have, therefore, taken the difficult decision to close the nursery permanently with effect from July 31."
