A NURSERY that would have celebrated its 25th anniversary this year has instead been shut down "out of the blue".
Little Sparrow's Nursery in Ingatestone High Street is due to close on Friday, leaving members of staff jobless and parents having to make alternative childcare arrangements.
The nursery, which caters for children aged up to four, is run by the Ingatestone Elim Pentecostal Church, which last year welcomed a new pastor, Lee Stephens.
Cara Smith, of Rye Walk, Ingatestone, is the mother of four-year-old Evan, who has attended the nursery for the past two years.
The 41-year-old told the Gazette: "The nursery is a really vital service for the community.
"The staff there are amazing and I don't know what Ingatestone will do without them.
"They left telling the parents to the last minute – we only got told on Tuesday last week that they would be closing.
"It was out of the blue.
"Luckily my son is four so he will not need it anymore but the parents of younger children will be hit by this.
"I think the new pastor is trying to make some changes but we had no idea that the nursery was under threat."
Amanda Lovitt, of The Furlongs, Ingatestone, is the mother of two girls who have both attended the nursery.
She said: "Both of my children have been there for four years in total and my youngest is just coming to the end of her time there.
"Luckily I was only left searching for one week of childcare and my disabled mum was able to step in and help out.
"But others will not be as lucky as me and they will be left scrambling for childcare at the last minute.
"If it is a financial issue then they should have asked us if we could pay more and I am sure a lot of us would have been prepared to."
The 39-year-old continued: "The nursery was a little haven.
"They have always tried to help me when I have had problems – I don't know what Ingatestone will do without them.
"It was also a special needs nursery which I know a lot of people would travel quite far to use, so what those parents are going to do I do not know.
"To leave telling us to the last minute is not fair on the children, the staff or the parents.
"This will really upset a lot of kids."
Deputy manager at the nursery Claire Sheehan, 49, gave 24 years of her life to Little Sparrows.
She said: "I have had four daughters at this nursery and I will be very sad to see it go.
"As for looking for a new job, I can't think about it until this is over.
"We were told on July 29 and had no idea that it was closing before that.
"We knew there were some financial issues but didn't think it would close.
"We had a good bunch of staff who worked here who had a lot of experience.
"I am just sad to see this come to an end after so long."
A spokesman for the church was unavailable for comment as the Gazette went to press.
