Council to support parents hit by nursery closure

Herefordshire Council is moving to arrange good quality childcare for working parents after Ofsted inspectors closed Kington Children's Centre Nursery this week (Thursday 18 September).

Ofsted visited the nursery following an application to register the nursery under new private ownership. The inspector was unable to register the nursery because the new owners had not obtained all the necessary clearances regarding staffing.

A nursery cannot operate legally without Ofsted registration. To ensure the safety of children is safeguarded, council staff have spoken with some parents attending the nursery in person and will be contacting remaining parents to discuss the support available to them.

To minimise disruption for working parents and try to provide some continuity for the children, the council is working to make sure that the families affected will have childcare provision available from Monday (22 September 2008).

Parents are being signposted to local registered childminders, facilities in other children's centres and places available in the nearest childcare nurseries. Parents affected by the closure can contact a childcare information line on 01432 261681.