By James Williamson

PARENTS AND staff were left in tears outside a Dundee nursery last night, after hearing it will close within a fortnight.

Around 20 jobs will be lost and up to 70 children could be left without a nursery place, hindering their early education and causing concern for busy parents.

Staff received letters yesterday afternoon explaining the Little Explorers nursery on Old Glamis Road will close on September 30.

The news came as a shock and, with the new term already under way, parents could struggle to find new places for their little ones.

Kelly Ogilvie, whose three-year-old daughter Niamh attends the nursery, said, “I’m really just sad and worried that I’ve got to find somewhere for Niamh.

“I’m unhappy because the girls that are there have looked after her really well. She needs her nursery and that stimulation.”

She said she was angry parents were not officially notified and had to hear from staff.

“The term has started now and there’s limited childcare, and I can’t put her in the council nursery because all the places there have been taken for this year.

“What can I do in two weeks? Like a lot of people I work and so do the rest of the family, so there’s no-one who could take her.”

One member of Little Explorers staff told The Courier that she had “given up, basically” after hearing the news.

“But we’re keeping it going for the kids,” she said. “I had a parent in earlier on that had phoned six or seven nurseries and couldn’t find another space at all.”

She said the letters did not explain why the nursery will close, or include any information about redundancy pay for staff.

Strathmartine councillor Ian Borthwick said last night, “It’s quite clear that the closure of any facility will cause a great deal of concern for parents and disruption to working parents, as well as affecting staff.

“I’ll have to ascertain the reason for this happening, but I will be making inquiries to see what the situation is.”

The nursery was threatened with closure last year after the Care Commission found staff were poorly trained, leading to poor infection control and hygiene.

The nursery owners were not available for comment last night.