Parents have been left scrambling to find last-minute childcare after a Newcastle centre announced it would not open with less than a day's notice.
The Little Unicorn on Honeysuckle informed parents via their app on Tuesday, September 8, that the approved provider of the service had resigned.
By 4pm on Tuesday, parents were told that the centre could not operate without an approved provider or person in management and control.
They were told that all educators would be taking personal stress leave until further notice.
In communication to parents, the Little Unicorn on Honeysuckle team said they had been given information to liaise with the NSW Trustee and Guardian after the approved provider's departure without "any notice or support".
The team said they were waiting for more information about what would happen next.
The Little Unicorn operates two sites at Honeysuckle and Charlestown. It is unclear if the Charlestown site was also closed.
Both companies are facing wind-up applications in the Victorian Supreme Court over alleged unpaid debts, and a hearing is listed for September 17.
Sam Roberts had enrolled his two-and-a-half year old daughter at the Honeysuckle for three days a week.
He works full-time and his partner is a shift worker.
"We were left scrambling last night, I was running into parents at the shops, I was speaking with parents through messaging services," Mr Roberts said.
"Everyone has been left in the lurch."
Mr Roberts said he spent his evening cancelling direct debits to the centre and trying to figure out if he had to take the day off work on Wednesday to look after his daughter.
"My wife and I are frankly disappointed and upset that this has happened at such short notice and that it has come out of the blue," he said.
Mr Roberts said he managed to secure last-minute babysitting with a member of staff from the Honeysuckle centre.
He said parents were unaware whether they would have a chance to collect items left at the centre, or what would happen to digital files of the children and pre-paid childcare funds.
Another concerned Honeysuckle parent said they were upset for their five-year-old son.
"He ran to his room to his little hiding sad spot," they said.
"He is going to big school next year, so we were looking forward to that really beautiful send-off with him and his buddies, which now won't happen."
Two other Honeysuckle parents, one of whom said this was the second childcare closure they'd experienced, said they were disappointed for the staff and students.
"The educators and the staff that we've dealt with have been fantastic," one parent said.
"We are devastated for our kids because they've built such beautiful relationships with their educators and their little mates."
The Newcastle Herald has contacted The Little Unicorn on Honeysuckle and The Little Unicorn Charlestown, as well as the centres' approved provider for comment.
