TWO nurseries in Kendal have closed just days before Christmas leaving staff and parents ‘shocked’ and 140 children out of education.

Staff at Safehands nursery, at the top of Captain French Lane, were told by their head office last Thursday that the establishment would close the following day and everyone would be made redundant with immediate effect.

Safehands Nurseries Ltd bought the nursery in 2012.

Parents and staff thought they would be in ‘safe hands’ due to the company’s nationwide success in ‘developing a range of services that specialised in all aspects of quality care provision.’

Nursery deputy manager Stacy Lamb said they had been left in the dark and now 12 members of staff were going to be out of a job before Christmas.

“We literally didn’t have a clue,” she said “We are absolutely gutted as to us this isn’t just a job.

“You become attached to the children and you create such a special bond with them as well as the parents.”

Miss Lamb, who has worked at the nursery for more than 10 years, is 15 weeks pregnant and said she was convinced she would not get her maternity pay after what has happened.

“There are no words that can describe this, we’re still in absolute shock,” she said

“We’ve come such a long way and it’s been an uphill struggle but we’ve worked hard to get to where we are.

“We were looking at getting an ‘outstanding’ award from Ofsted, but now that can’t happen.”

Miss Lamb added that most nurseries around the area were at full capacity and that it would be incredibly difficult to accommodate all of the children.

“If only we were given more time, we would have tried to find a way to keep the nursery open,” she said

“It’s heart-wrenching for all of us.

“The boys and girls were meant to enjoy their Christmas dinner but how can we knowing they won’t be coming back?”

Full-time working mum Rachel Goodson chose to place her 18-month-old son Joshua at the nursery because of the people who worked there.

“Everyone here is fantastic. They’re all so personal and Joshua has become so attached to every staff member,” she said.

“I would love to be a full-time mum but these people are the best substitutes.

“It’s just so horrific, to do this before Christmas.

“I’m gutted for everyone here.”

Safehands Nurseries has confirmed the nursery was closing but the Gazette was still awaiting a further comment as the paper went to press.

PlayBase Nusery, on Beezon Road, also suffered a similar fate as its doors ‘suddenly’ shut last Friday evening.

Sam Moffatt, the nursery’s manager, had spent the day showing prospective parents around the building before being told that the nursery would not be re-opening after Christmas.

“We enrolled a couple of parents on Friday morning, so to suddenly get the news that same afternoon was absolutely shocking,” she said.

“We love each and every child here like our own, and we wished we could have said goodbye properly.”

The nursery is owned by St Gregory’s Homecare Ltd which provides for social care in the community.

Mrs Moffatt added that the way everyone was treated, including the parents, was ‘appalling’ and ‘unfair.

“Some staff are on holiday and they still haven’t ‘officially’ been told,” she said.

“Others found out through social media. This has happened too quickly and not in a delicate manner, truly awful.”

The Gazette contacted St Gregory’s Homecare but it did not wish to comment.