Little Explorers: Parents left to arrange new pre-school places as Gosport nursery exiles children
Little Explorers terminated the places of pre-school children at the end of last week.
Parents left scrambling to find new pre-school places for their children are receiving no help from the county council, they have alleged.
Last week, Little Explorers Nursery and Pre-School in Heritage Way, Gosport, terminated the places of all pre-school children who would be moving up to primary school in September. It came following an Ofsted inspection that found safeguarding issues, health and safety concerns and special educational needs not being met.
Another issue cited was the ratio of staff to children, which the nursery has responded to by axing the places of 42 pre-schoolers.
Parents were told that Hampshire County Council would assist them with finding new places - but as today (Monday, April 13) marks the first day for these children without a pre-school, some say the county council has not offered any help at all.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Parents have pretty much been left to sort it out themselves, some still with nowhere to go that suits our working hours.
“Regarding Hampshire County Council and places to go, we were given two options but told to arrange it ourselves. That's more than 40 children trying to fights to get into two places.
“Thankfully local schools and pre-schools have been very helpful, so my fingers are crossed for those who still haven't managed to find anything yet. “
Via the county council, Little Explorers has signposted affected parents to two other pre-schools - Hopscotch Day Nurseries in Mumby Road, and Kiddi Caru Day Nursery in Gosport Road, Fareham.
The anonymous parent added: “There are parents who have younger children and a lot of places do not have the capacity to accommodate both. The price increases are too much for some parents, and it’s not fair that parents should have to pay that difference when the situation is not their fault.
“For parents who don’t drive, some places are way too far for them to get to, but may be the only place with availability. Some places are not offering an option of consumable charges, meaning they have no choice but to pay extra.
“To just offer two pre-schools that actually only have a limited availability and cannot accommodate all of the above is just shocking.
“It is the management that this falls upon. The girls who work in numbers at Little Explorers are amazing, and negative impact on the name Little Explorers is going to make it hard for them, which they do not deserve.”
Hampshire County Council has been contacted for comment.