Uckfield Nursery’s Lease Non-Renewal Causes Parental Concern

Families with children attending an East Sussex nursery, which has received notice to vacate its premises by the close of the year, have expressed concerns regarding their future prospects. Little Fireflies Nursery, located in Uckfield, stated that the Diocese of Chichester, the property owner, informed them that their lease agreement would not be extended beyond December. The childcare facility, established in 2022, indicated that its closure would leave a minimum of 72 families without childcare provisions starting in the new year. Martin Reid, whose daughter attends the nursery, commented: “Because everywhere is so competitive and there are very few places, there is a real chance that one of us, likely my wife, will have to stop her small business.” He further stated: “We both work to keep up with the cost of living and so many other expenses, so having to take the cut in income and not give our daughter the support she needs is really going to be devastating.” A representative for the Diocese remarked: “They [the nursery] understand that we have already extended the time they have been able to stay and we remain in close contact with them as their search continues.” Parent Katy Irwin expressed that she had been “scrabbling to try find [nursery] places that just don’t exist”. Similarly, Sophia Sharif, another parent, conveyed her “devastated” feelings, noting that Little Fireflies was the sole nursery in the vicinity capable of accommodating her family’s specific requirements. A spokesperson representing a collective of parents indicated that families were left “in distress” due to the “critical shortage of childcare options in our area”. Despite the nursery’s efforts to secure a new location, co-owner Natalie Lang conveyed that she was “absolutely devastated about the impending closure”. She added: “We had hoped to relocate to new premises but planning application delays have sadly meant this will not be possible.” Little Fireflies stated that its proposal to pay an increased rent was declined. East Sussex County Council declared that it lacked the authority to intervene in the lease arrangement; however, its early years team would persist in assisting the owners in their search for a new location. For updates, follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.