Nursery World - Short-notice school closure leaves parents in the lurch

Childcare company Primary Steps has announced the closure of its pre-preparatory school in Essex, leaving parents just five weeks to find another school for their children before the start of the summer holidays. Primary Steps acquired Gosford Pre-Preparatory School in Ilford in October 2003 when the nursery chain, which operates 32 nurseries across south-east England, bought out Gosford House Nurseries.

Primary Steps acquired Gosford Pre-Preparatory School in Ilford in October 2003 when the nursery chain, which operates 32 nurseries across south-east England, bought out Gosford House Nurseries.

The school caters for a maximum of 36 children between the ages of four and seven, but only half the places are currently occupied.

Parents received written notification on 7 June that Gosford Pre-Preparatory School would close when term finishes on 15 July. The parents have been angered by the short notice and claim that Primary Steps has done 'almost nothing' to promote the school and increase the number of pupils.

One parent, Helen Chapman, said, 'The parents and staff have done all they can over the last nine months to increase numbers, but Primary Steps and its directors seem to have had no interest in giving us help or support of any kind. It seems to us that Primary Steps is more committed to making money than to education.'

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