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Families 'devastated' by sudden nursery closure

Liam Carr Liam Carr with his three-year-old son. Liam is wearing a baseball cap.Liam Carr
Liam Carr says he will only see his son for an hour this week due to a lack of childcare

Parents and staff at a children's nursery in Hull which has been forced to close by inspectors have said the situation is "devastating" and "heartbreaking".

Westcott Tots on Westcott Street was closed on Thursday by Ofsted which said it had "reasonable cause to believe children may be exposed to a risk of harm".

The group, which was founded as a charity in 1993, said its current building was "on the brink of disrepair".

The decision affects more than 30 children who attend the nursery and six staff members, the BBC understands.

Westcott Totts. A modular building in a state of disrepair. The windows are covered with grills and there are holes in the walls.
Westcott Tots has been forced to close by Ofsted

Stacie Moxon, the chairwoman of the committee at Westcott Tots, said the 30-year-old building has "loads of issues" which were "constantly cropping up".

"We have a lot of kids here who need it. The staff are amazing, the kids are amazing, it's just the building doesn't match and it's such a mammoth task.

"If we can't raise enough funds to find a new building, then there will be no more Westcott Tots.

"There's nowhere else for us to go, we couldn't afford the rates trying to hire out another building long-term. If we can't do it then that's it."

Stacie Moxon. She is smiling at the camera. She stands in front of pictures hand-painted by the children.
Stacie Moxon says a fundraiser has been launched to get a new building

The nursery, which has been graded "outstanding" five times by Ofsted, helps users to progress to the nearby Westcott Primary School.

Liam, whose son has attended the nursery for the past two years, said the "devastating" decision to close it had left his family with no other option for childcare.

He told the BBC that his son would be going to stay with his mother-in-law in Lincoln, 50 miles (80km) away from the family home, until he can find an alternative arrangement.

"I'm probably not going to see my son for more than an hour all week. There is no other option," he said.

"We both work, my wife works shifts and I work full-time, normally early mornings to late into the evening. Much longer hours than normal school times."

Two children who attend the nursery. They are leaning on a fence and smiling.
More than 30 children attend the nursery on Westcott Street

Officials at Westcott Tots said they have now set up a crowdfunding campaign to try and raise an initial £8,000 towards a new modular building.

Ofsted has confirmed the registration of the nursery has been suspended with "immediate effect" for a period of six weeks which will run until 26 February.

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