Parents hit out after Wallingford nursery closure announcement

Parents have been advised to obtain places in other nurseries

Parents have complained about being left with "very little options" after a nursery announced its closure.

Childcare provider Bright Horizons said its Mongewell nursery in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, would close in March as its landlords were ending its tenancy.

A new nursery is set to take over the lease but is not due to open until July. Parents have said alternative venues are too far away.

Bright Horizons said it was working to provide "continuity of care".

The company, which runs more than 300 community and workplace nurseries throughout the UK, informed parents earlier this month it would shut the doors on 28 March.

It said its landlords had "exercised their right to the break clause of the nursery's building lease".

Parents were advised to try and obtain places in its other nurseries, such as Didcot.

'Absolutely gutted'

In a letter to parents, the company admitted it had known about the landlords' intentions since the summer.

"We had initially hoped that we could agree to operate the nursery from the current premises for longer, however, this could not be agreed," it said.

Gary Atkinson, whose child started earlier this month, said he was "shocked" to hear - eight days later - it would be closing.

He said it has left families with "very little options going forward".

"The announcement has started a feeding frenzy for the limited number of places this area has available, leaving the only real alternative - to go to one of Bright Horizons' other sites - a significant increase to travel time," he added.

Another parent posted on social media she was "absolutely gutted". "Our little girl loves it and the staff are incredible," she added.

In a statement, Bright Horizons said: "Our primary focus is and has always been ensuring continuity of care for our children and families and supporting our staff to remain in work.

"We remain dedicated to our parent partnership and will support families to seek alternative childcare arrangements in the local area."    

Cressida Munnery, of the Elizabeth House nursery, due to open at the property in July, admitted some parents had been left in a "difficult situation" with a four-month gap in childcare.

"The decision to close Mongewell Park in March was made solely by Bright Horizons and was outside of the control and knowledge of Elizabeth House," she added.