Staff left without jobs or pay when a children’s nursery suddenly closed were told by the boss they could still have a works Christmas party.
Around 15 staff at the Clayton West Day Care and Pre-Preparatory School in Clayton West lost their jobs when the business shut down on Friday.
Staff were summoned to an emergency meeting at 6.30pm to be told by director Susan Walker that the nursery would cease trading with immediate effect.
One of the staff, who asked not to be named, said wages for October hadn’t been paid and told how the news was broken to shocked staff.
“At about 12 o’clock on Friday all staff received an e-mail saying there was a meeting taking place at 6.30pm,” she said.
“That was when the staff were told the business was ending and that we had to look for alternative employment from Monday November 2.
“We weren’t given a clear indication why, just that it was financial difficulties. It was supposed to be pay day on Friday but there was no indication when staff would be paid.”
The news was delivered by Ms Walker and a man who had been acting as an advisor.
The staff member said: “Susan Walker even mentioned the staff Christmas dinner and said it would still go ahead.
“Who would want to go to the Christmas dinner? I thought that was appalling. Staff have families and have just lost their jobs.”
The woman said staff understood that they would have to claim their wages through liquidators, though it could be 14 days before liquidators were appointed.
“We were told we would receive documents through the post,” she added.
The only communication staff have had since was an e-mail asking them to return keys by pushing them through the letterbox.
The nursery cared for up to 50 children from babies upwards. Many parents are understood to have paid fees for November, anything between £500 and £1,000.
Cash had also been paid for other items including a pantomime trip and Christmas cards. It is not clear what will happen to that money.
A parent told the Examiner that parents had paid £25 a head for a panto trip to see Dick Whittington at Wakefield Theatre Royal on December 1.
No booking had been made with the theatre but there was good news.
A theatre spokesman said: “The booking by Clayton West Day Care has not been paid for. Despite parents having apparently paid for the tickets this has never been passed to the theatre.
“We would not, however, wish the children to suffer because of this and are prepared to honour the booking.”
Parents affected should ring the theatre box office on 01924 211311 for further information.
