Parent 'devastated' after nursery announces closure

Bright Horizons Quayside Day Nursery and Preschool, in Ipswich, was set to close in December

A parent is "devastated" after her child's nursery announced it was suddenly closing.

Bright Horizons Quayside Day Nursery and Preschool, in Ipswich, is set to shut on 31 December "ahead of the end of our lease term". It said it would support families in finding alternative arrangements.

The University of Suffolk, who own the building, said it had been in discussions with the nursery as part of plans to integrate the building into its campus development.

Danielle Parrott, one of the parents affected, said: "We just feel really disheartened and disappointed by the decision. It seems that the university has not clearly thought about the impact it has on Ipswich as a community."

Mrs Parrott's daughter attends the nursery, and her other child was expected to start in January 2026.

The 39-year-old, who lives in Ipswich, said: "I will have no childcare for both kids, so it would be work or no work, and if I do not work, it will impact us financially.

"It is not great because I can not give my kids, even if I am full-time at home with them, what the nursery offers."

Ms Parrott said the closure of the nursery has had "a huge impact" on her family

Ms Parrott said about 165 families would directly be affected by the closure.

"At the nursery, we have staff whose kids go to the nursery as well, and of course, the staff will not have jobs," she said

"I just hope that, by the parents reaching out and talking and expressing our concerns, the university and the landlord realise the detrimental effects this has."

A spokesperson from the University of Suffolk said: "We have been in discussions with Quayside Nursery about the end of their lease over the past 12 months as part of our plans to integrate the building into our ambitious campus development."

They added: "It is our understanding that despite the search for an alternative location, the nursery was unable to find a suitable premises to relocate to."

A spokesperson for the university said it shared the "disappointment of families affected that a more positive outcome could not be reached"

A petition, launched by Mrs Parrott and other parents, to try and save the nursery gained about 400 signatures. A protest was also expected to take place.

A spokesperson for Bright Horizons said: "We can confirm that the nursery will be closing ahead of the end of our lease term."

They added: "We remain committed to our parent partnership and will support families in finding alternative childcare arrangements in the local area."