Little Explorers: Hampshire County Council 'limited' in help for families after pre-schoolers were kicked out
More than 40 children in Gosport have been left without a pre-school place this week.
Children kicked out of a pre-school can only receive “limited” help in finding a new place, the county council has admitted.
Last week, Little Explorers Nursery in Heritage Way, Gosport, kicked out more than 40 pre-school children following an Ofsted report. Inspectors found issues with safeguarding, health and safety and special educational needs not being met.
Ofsted also listed an issue with the ratio of staff to children, with the nursery responding by axing 42 pre-school places. The affected children are all due to start primary school in September.
Parents were told by the nursery that Hampshire County Council would be assisting them in finding new places to send their children.
Now, the council has admitted that the role it can play in this is “limited”.
A spokesperson said: “We continue to engage with Little Explorers Nursery and are responding to families as they get in touch for support. A number of families have already secured alternative childcare places at other settings, but there are still more who need to be able to find suitable provision.
“This follows the decision by Little Explorers Nursery, as an independent provider, to reduce the number of places it offers due to staffing challenges. While our ability to provide direct alternative provision is limited, we remain focused on assisting families wherever possible.”
Some parents say they have still not heard from the county council at the time of publication.