A NURSERY judged ‘inadequate’ by inspectors has closed suddenly – leaving parents with just hours to find care for their children.

Parents whose children attended Cherry Tree House Kindergarten, Forest Road, Moldgreen, were told on Wednesday morning that the nursery was closing down that evening.

One mother was told the kindergarten, which had 27 children aged from 0 – 5 on the books, was shutting because the business was no longer ‘financially viable’.

Cherry Tree House was served with a list of legal notices by Ofsted in July, demanding it improved to comply with childcare laws.

Cherry Tree House scored ‘inadequate’ ratings in all but one category of the nursery’s latest Ofsted report.

In the report an Ofsted inspector said of the nursery: “The quality of provision is inadequate.

“The children’s learning opportunities have significant weaknesses and restrict their progress and personal development.

“The early years provision requires significant improvement.”

Cherry Tree House’s latest owner Julie Ann Marsland registered with the Early Years Register in February 2006.

The kindergarten, which opened in 1993, received a ‘satisfactory’ report in July 2006.

But in April 2009 Ofsted – a Government agency which regulates education and childcare – recorded a list of complaints at Cherry Tree House.

Complaints included:

Inappropriate management of children’s behaviour

Providing unhealthy food

Keeping poorly maintained premises

Failing to maintain a sufficient number of staff to supervise the children.

The nursery was issued with a series of legal notices from Ofsted demanding it rectify the problems.

But in July a visiting Ofsted inspector found, while the nursery had improved, it was still failing to meet legal targets.

One mum, who did not want to be named, paid £28 per day for her son to attend Cherry Tree House.

She said: “I was always happy with Cherry Tree House and my son seemed to like it. The staff were fabulous.

“It left me in a pickle when it closed. I was at work yesterday and I had to ring round to find somewhere for my son to go.

“I was cross and upset because he has friends there and he gets on with the staff.

“If your business is failing you will know in advance, so I’m quite annoyed.”

The Examiner contacted Cherry Tree House’s owner Julie Ann Marsden. She failed to respond.

The latest report can be found at: www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxcare_reports/display/(id)/252746