What you made of Bexhill nursery's surprise closure

Following the surprise announcement of 1st Friends Day Nursery's planned closure, a number of readers left comments expressing their disappointment at seeing it go.
1st Friends Day Nursery, in Bexhill, will be closing. Picture: Google Street View1st Friends Day Nursery, in Bexhill, will be closing. Picture: Google Street View
1st Friends Day Nursery, in Bexhill, will be closing. Picture: Google Street View

The nursery, based in Barrack Road, will close before Christmas citing the Government’s introduction of 30 hours funding – where parents can claim up to 30 hours of free childcare a week – as its main reason for closure.

Suzanne Pigott, director at the Bexhill nursery, confirmed the closure on Friday (September 28).

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After the Bexhill Observer broke the news, a number of readers – some of them customers – commented on its Facebook page to share their memories.

Abbie Oberheim said: “My son goes here and I think it’s a brilliant nursery.”

Rachel Batchelor added: “That was a lovely nursery. I remember doing my work placement there for college.”

Sophie Douglin acknowledged there had been problems but said: “All the staff there are lovely!

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“There may have been problems with the building itself but my boys always loved the staff that worked there. That’s why we picked this nursery.”

Joanne Clark praised the ‘amazing staff’ who worked tirelessly for the love of the children.

She added: “I had a child who (went from being) a mute to an expressive confident child when worked with under the care of such wonderful staff here.

“I think it’s so sad that they are losing their livelihood. I really hope all are ok and moving on to greatness.”

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In response to the nursery’s decision to close due to the introduction of 30 hours funding, Diane Smith said: “Free childcare is a great policy for hard-pressed families, but it’s middle income families and those who provide care who are being left to pick up the bill for the government’s underfunding of those free hours.”

Sasje A-j added: “Let’s hope that the government actually invests the money required for its 30hr funding policy before we lose anymore nurseries in our town.”

After announcing the closure, Suzanne Pigott said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff for their hard work and loyalty, we would like to wish them all the best for the future, and thank all the parents that have supported us.”

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