Eight Bright Horizons HMRC nurseries to close

The eight nurseries the group operates for HMRC, in partnership with facilities management company Mapeley, will close at the end of November.

The nurseries are: Cheeky Cherubs in Manchester; Deansgate Nursery in Wolverhampton; Nippers Nursery in Leicestershire; Peter Bennett Nursery in Leeds; Castle Meadow Day Nursery in Nottingham; Chaucers Walk in Blackburn, Lancashire; First Friends Nursery in Cardiff; and Hector’s House Nursery in East Kilbride, Glasgow.

The nurseries, most of which are rated good or outstanding, provide a total of more than 300 places.

Many of the settings are open to the community as well as HMRC employees.

HMRC chief people officer Mike Falvey said, ‘The decision to close the nurseries is based on detailed research and was not taken lightly. Nor should it reflect negatively on the service provided by Bright Horizons, who have done a good job over the years.’

Carole Edmond, managing director of Bright Horizons, said, ‘We have been managing the HMRC nurseries for many years – some for over 15 years - and are very proud of the way in which our nursery teams have supported HMRC employees and their children, together with community families, during this time.  It is a very sad time for the staff and families and indeed for all of us. We will do all we can to support families in finding new childcare arrangements and our staff in finding new employment opportunities wherever it is possible to do so.’

A petition to save the HMRC nurseries managed by Bright Horizions has been launched, which disputes claims that the take-up of nursery places has been dropping.