'Blindsided' Edinburgh parents left with three days notice to find new childcare after sudden nursery closure
All staff are being made redundant after the company declared it was facing insolvency
Parents in north Edinburgh say they have been “blindsided” after the sudden closure of a local childcare provider left them with just three days’ notice to find alternative cover.
Staff and parents of North Edinburgh Childcare (NEC) on Ferry Road Avenue were informed on Monday night the nursery would be closing on Friday, after the charity’s Board of Trustees declared it was “facing insolvency”.
NEC also provides six out-of-school clubs and two breakfast clubs across the city, which have all been cut as a result of the closure.
All staff employed by the North Edinburgh Childcare charity and North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Limited have been told they are being made redundant.
A letter to employees, which was posted online, said the redundancies would affect all staff and that sessional workers would not be offered further hours after Friday, October 30.
The letter stated: “It is intended to make redundancies at 18b Ferry Road Avenue, Edinburgh and our associated sites because the financial situation is such that we cannot continue to meet our financial obligations.
“We have considered very careful alternatives to closure and redundancies but having regard to anticipated future income and our cashflow situation we have concluded that there is no option but to close North Edinburgh Childcare and North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Limited.”
A liquidator is set to be appointment on November 2 and dismissals are due to take place with “immediate effect”.
Parents were informed at the same time as staff on Monday evening, and say they are now scrambling around trying to find alternative childcare arrangements .
An email sent to parents by the Board of Trustees, also posted online, cited “a falling birth rate, lower demand for childcare, increasing overheads and diminishing external financial support” as reasons contributing to the closure.
It read: “We recognised how upsetting and worrying this news will be, and the difficulties it will cause but these circumstances are out with our control.
“Please note that if you currently pay by standing order you should cancel that arrangement immediately.”
One parent, who has two daughters who attend the after school club at Forthview Primary School in Pilton, said she received the email at around 7.30pm last night and felt “completely blindsided” by the news.
She said she has had to tell her employer she will not be able to fulfil her contracted hours for the foreseeable, and said she had “no idea” how she will manage going forward.
“I feel so stressed and overwhelmed,” she said. “I am a single mum and I don’t have another parent to rely on. It’s literally just me.
“I have my mum but she also works so I can’t rely on her. I rely on the after school club and the holiday clubs to do my job and provide an income for me and my kids.”
She said she contacted Forth View Primary immediately after she received the email, who she said appeared to have had no prior notice of the closure.
She said she is now waiting to hear back from Edinburgh council about whether an alternative can be put in place to support parents.
“I’m sure there's so many other parents in my position,” she said.
“Childcare isn’t cheap and it’s so hard to get, especially wraparound childcare which is what I need.”
Another devastated parent said: “It’s been total blindsiding for us parents and completely panic inducing to find new childcare with less than a week notice but the worst part is working out how I’m going to tell my toddler that as of Friday his settled safe place is not there and he won’t see his friends and favourite staff members again.
“I’m gutted and I’m livid.”
A spokesperson for North Edinburgh Childcare said: “It is with enormous sadness that North Edinburgh Childcare announces that the organisation is facing insolvency and is closing on Friday 30 October 2026.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we will be open as normal on Friday 30th but will be closed thereafter.
“The Board of Trustees has explored every possible option and scenario to keep the organisation open and financially viable.
“Sadly, despite our best efforts, a sustainable way forward cannot be identified and, having taken legal advice, the decision has been made to close forthwith.
“This is a devastating outcome for an organisation that has supported children, families and the local community for many years.
“Our thoughts are very much with the children and families who rely on our services, and with our dedicated staff who have worked so hard to support them.
“We continue to liaise with the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure that all available support is identified for families affected by the closure and for our staff during this very difficult time.”
Euan Hyslop, the SNP councillor for the Drum Brae and Gyle ward, said the closure had caused “huge disruption” and left families with “no alternative provision in place”.
He said he will table an emergency motion at this week’s full meeting of the council calling for urgent action to support families affected.
Dr Scott Arthur, the Scottish Labour MP for Edinburgh South West, said he was concerned about the closure of the breakfast and after-school club at Juniper Green Primary, which he warned would put “extreme pressure on parents and carers”.
An Edinburgh council spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of the closure of North Edinburgh Childcare.
“We have been in communication with the organisation and are offering support for the affected members of staff as well as the families that used this service.”