Jungle Junction nursery in Denton has permanently closed after Ofsted suspended its registration over concerns that children were potentially at risk of harm, leaving parents and staff claiming to be out of pocket.
The Duke Street nursery, operated by Denton Daycare Ltd, was temporarily shut down last month for six weeks following the watchdog's intervention. Ofsted has not disclosed the specific concerns that led to the suspension. The company has now decided to close permanently due to its financial challenges.
Parents face childcare emergency
Keeley Godwin, whose three-year-old son Jackson has special educational needs, spoke to an Ofsted inspector during a visit on October 16. When she returned to pick up her son later that day, the nursery announced its sudden closure. She said the nursery was supposed to be gathering evidence of his autism to help him find a specialist school place, which will now be delayed.
"I am angry at the moment because there has been very little communication," she said. "We had just got him into a routine of going. The crying had stopped but now it's all ended. Ofsted aren't telling us anything, the nursery aren't telling us anything. It's like it's all a big secret."
Lauren Harrison, whose four-year-old attends the nursery before and after pre-school, said there had been issues since a change of management in the summer and a high staff turnover. She said she paid in advance for her son's care and is owed hundreds of pounds, while also expecting a reduced pay packet next month after cutting her work hours to find alternative care.
Director apologises but cites financial limits
Company director Alina Naveed apologised to parents for the difficult circumstances, saying the business cannot meet all outstanding payments directly due to its financial position. She said she took over the nursery in January with every intention of making it a success, but faced ongoing staffing difficulties, operational pressures and financial challenges.
"When Ofsted suspended the nursery's registration, it placed an already struggling business in an extremely difficult position," she said. "After considering the circumstances and whether reopening would be financially and operationally possible, I had to make the heartbreaking decision that the nursery could not continue."
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, described the situation as chaos, saying parents are still in the dark about why Ofsted closed the nursery and have been unable to collect some of their children's items despite being told they could arrange to do so.
