ATTEMPTS ARE being made to help parents left hundreds out of pounds out of pocket by the sudden closure of a children’s nursery.
Parents were shocked when they went to pick up their children at the Three Bears Nursery in Dunfermline on the Friday before Christmas, only to be told it was shutting down.
Some 15 members of staff were left distraught at learning they were losing their jobs.
A crisis meeting is taking place tomorrow between Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty, Dunfermline South councillor Cara Hilton and a Fife Council representative to determine what support is available for those affected.
Ms Hilton said: “This was a major shock for parents. It’s tough enough looking after children and working without having to worry about not having childcare after the holidays.
“Hopefully we will be able to reassure parents and try to avoid anything like this happening again.”
There was no warning the Canmore Street nursery was about to fold, and some parents found out only as they arrived at the nursery gate at 3.30pm.
Others were called by upset members of staff who remained on duty until all the youngsters had been collected.
The nursery, which is registered for 50 children, had been due to close for eight days over the festive period.
Ms Hilton and Mr Docherty have been supporting parents and staff trying to get money owed to them.
It remains unclear which administrator has been called in, or even if one has been appointed.
Some families were due rebates averaging £481 for local authority-funded places that had been paid by the council to the nursery but were yet to be passed on.
Ms Hilton said: “Parents were expecting that money to be refunded at the end of December.
“One parent who contacted me had paid half of her fees for the next month and doesn’t know whether she will get that money back.
“That’s probably an issue for the administrator, but we will try to see if Fife Council can provide assistance.
“Most parents I have spoken to have managed to find alternative childcare, but some of them are at a nursery which doesn’t receive partnership funding from the council.”
Ms Hilton said the nursery had intended to register to provide funded pre-school places and she hoped to establish whether that process could be speeded up.
Council area education officer Carrie Lindsay, who will attend the meeting, said: “We are working with parents and other local providers to ensure we have a place for all affected children that attended the Three Bears Nursery.
“Fife Council is also investigating what can be done about the rebate that parents did not receive.”
Parents spoke of their shock at the closure on The Courier website.
Roslyn Farmer said she had found alternative care but added: “I feel for the staff, as they are amazing with the kids, and think it is terrible the way they have been treated.
“They should be paid what they are due.”
Graham Ferguson, whose three daughters attended the nursery, said: “The way this has been handled is terrible for all the parents and staff affected, not to mention that the nursery has just taken credit from Fife Council for all of the pre-school partnership funding for each pre-school child.“This has left us over £600 out of pocket.”
The Courier was unable to contact the nursery.