Parents say they have been left devastated after a popular nursery in Tameside has been forced to permanently close.
Funtasia First Steps nursery in Stalybridge announced the closure earlier this week, with the owner saying that running the centre had been a 'constant up hill battle' since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dozens of parents, who have described the nursery as 'absolutely brilliant' and 'the best thing for their children,' told the M.E.N they had been left in tears over the planned closure.
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They have launched a petition called 'save our nursery' and are calling for help from the local community, and key political figures, in the hope it can be saved before shutting on March 31.
But the nursery's owner, Karen Saderson, said she believes it's too late for the centre, which cares for 21 children. She cited low admissions since the pandemic, along with soaring energy bills, and a 'lack of government funding' as the primary reasons why the business is no longer sustainable.
"I think now we are really seeing the true effect of Covid," she said. "Since 2019 there has been a steady decline in numbers as now more people are working from home.
"Our energy bills have gone through the roof and we have been trying to subsidise the nursery for so long but it's just not sustainable. We opened in 2018 and had two good years.
"The difference between a funded place and what it actually costs to look after them is £3 per child, which as a nursery we have had to subsidise. We rely on government funding which just isn't enough.
"When the living wage comes in this April we just won't have the money to pay the staff. It's just been a constant decline for us."
Lucy Lafferty, whose daughter Lola currently attends Funtasia for 15 hours a week, said she 'cried all day' when she found out the nursery would be closing.
"She absolutely loves it," she said. "They have been amazing and she has just come on leaps and bounds. They take them out for excursions and stuff which is really good for them.
"I literally cried all day when I found out they would be closing. At the moment I am really worried about how it might affect her."
Lucy, 22, who is a part-time college student, says she is concerned about the prospect of her three-year-old daughter having to find a new nursery before starting school in September.
"She is going to have to cope with a new set of teachers after March and then again when she starts school later this year, it's a lot of change for someone that young," she said.
"There is no other nursery like it, all the practitioners in the nursery make it what it is. They are an amazing team and should keep the nursery open to give more children a great start in life."
Stacie Beech, whose son Lucas, also attends the nursery, says she too is worried about the upheaval of finding him a new spot, and the prospect of him having to make new friends.
"My son has been going to Funtasia for around 18 months and it's been absolute brilliant," she said. "They go above and beyond for the kids there.
"They take them out on trips and even help the parents with workshops and cover things like weaning and potty training. I cried when I found out it was closing, I'm still emotional about it now.
"There is a lot of fear. It's heartbreaking for my child and all the other children, as well as the staff who work there.
"My son has got used to going there and knows all the teachers. He has four or five really good friends at the nursery and now he's going to have to make new friends."
Stacie says she and other parents launched the petition in the hope that the nursery can be saved. They have also contacted their local MP Jonathan Reynolds, who formally opened the nursery back in 2018.
"My son is really settling down and I don't want to have that ruined," she said. "We are trying our hardest to keep the nursery open.
"We just want as many people to help as possible. I am really worried and upset about and I would like to make a difference for the children and staff who work there."
Karen says there are four members of staff who will be affected by the closure, who have been offered different roles within the company, which also runs a before and after school club - which will remain open.
"We are lucky we have a passionate team which is why I know the parents are so upset," Karen said. "We have a really good ethos here, but there is only so much love and passion can do.
"The government don't seem to realise that early years is the most important part of a child's life. We just aren't given enough funding.
"In September we lost 22 children to school and only five new children started which seems to be common across Tameside. I know the parents mean well and they started this petition but sadly it won't get children through the door.
"We already don't have enough children and most of them are stare funded places meaning we have to make up the extra money. I think it's too late for us sadly."
Jonathan Reynolds MP, said: "I understand how concerning this closure is for parents and little ones alike. I’ve reached out to the nursery owners to understand the full picture and offer support. I don’t yet know the particulars, but I do know Britain needs a childcare sector that works better for parents and providers alike."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We recognise that families and early years providers across the country are facing financial pressures. That’s why we have spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to support families with the cost of childcare.
"We have also put in place unprecedented support to protect all businesses, including in the early years sector, from high energy prices. The £18 billion Energy Bill Relief Scheme is supporting millions of businesses with rising energy costs until April when the Energy Bills Discount Scheme comes into effect for another year."
A Tameside Council spokesperson said: "We are sorry to hear about the planned closure of Funtasia First Steps nursery, which is a private childcare provider outside of local authority control. The Free Entitlement Funding is Government set.
"Any parents/carers having any childcare difficulties due to the closure or any issues can contact our Families Information Service on 0161 342 4260, which can provide a list of childcare providers for them to consider and contact. For more information visit www.tameside.gov.uk/Surestart/The-Family-Information-Service-(FIS)"
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