'My son's nursery closed with just 29 days' notice - why?

"We really had a good feel for the place, and the nursery manager at the time really sold us on the vibe. It's not a decision that's made lightly."

"No love, no money spent on it - when I say no love, I mean no love from the parent company, because the staff there are fantastic."

"If the nursery had said, look, times are tough, we're going to have to increase the fees we'd have paid more."

Hackney Day Nursery and Preschool's closure, announced with 29 days' notice, left families like Thomas Knapp's facing urgent childcare challenges. The private equity-owned Family First Group cited declining demand as the reason for closure. Knapp noted local childcare spaces are scarce and expensive. He observed signs of neglect at the nursery, including a deteriorating garden and delayed repairs, suggesting a lack of investment from the parent company. Despite the staff's dedication, the overall environment suffered, leading to the nursery's downfall.

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