Nursery's uncertain future leaves parents on edge

Martin Reid said the potential closure of Little Fireflies Nursery in Uckfield would be "devastating"

Parents from an East Sussex nursery that has been told it must move by the end of the year said they are worried for what the future holds.

Little Fireflies Nursery in Uckfield said it was told by the Diocese of Chichester, which owns the site, that its lease would not be renewed past December.

The nursery, which opened in 2022, said at least 72 families would be left without childcare in the new year if it closed.

Martin Reid, who has a daughter at the nursery, said: "Because everywhere is so competitive and there are very few places, there is a real chance that one of us, likely my wife, will have to stop her small business."

Katy Irwin said the news of the potential closure was "stressful"

He added: "We both work to keep up with the cost of living and so many other expenses, so having to take the cut in income and not give our daughter the support she needs is really going to be devastating."

A spokesperson for the Diocese said: "They [the nursery] understand that we have already extended the time they have been able to stay and we remain in close contact with them as their search continues."

Parent Katy Irwin said she had been "scrabbling to try find [nursery] places that just don't exist".

Another parent Sophia Sharif said she was "devastated" as Little Fireflies was the only nursery in the area that could meet her family's needs.

'Absolutely devastated'

A spokesperson for a group of parents said families had been left "in distress" given the "critical shortage of childcare options in our area".

Although the nursery was looking for a new site, co-owner Natalie Lang said she was "absolutely devastated about the impending closure".

"We had hoped to relocate to new premises but planning application delays have sadly meant this will not be possible."

Little Fireflies said it offered to pay a higher rent, but its offer was refused.

East Sussex County Council said it did not have any authority to intervene in the lease agreement, but its early years team would continue to support the owners to find a new site.