Rockwell House Day Nursery recently made the difficult decision to close its pre-school room due to a critical shortage of staff. Parents were informed earlier this month, with the organization operating the nursery, Busy Bees, issuing apologies for the inconvenience. While some children were transferred to other Busy Bees nurseries, many parents had to find alternative childcare solutions independently.
One parent expressed frustration, sharing how they had to adjust their schedule and take emergency unpaid leave to secure a new nursery for their three-year-old before the summer break. Many parents turned to social media seeking pre-schools accepting new children in the area.
Unfortunately, Rockwell House’s closure is not an isolated case. Other nurseries and pre-schools across Oxfordshire have faced similar challenges. For instance, Dunmore Preschool in Abingdon closed abruptly, citing financial difficulties in re-registering with Ofsted and renewing its lease. Rosehill Preschool in Oxford shut down in March, and Long Wittenham Pre-School now faces a financial deficit of £3,000 as the academic year concludes.
A representative from Busy Bees explained that closing the pre-school room at Rockwell House was a last resort. They emphasized that significant efforts were made to resolve the staffing shortage, but maintaining legally required staff-to-child ratios proved unsustainable. Failing to meet these obligations could have led to regulatory consequences.
To mitigate the impact on families, Busy Bees has transferred some children to its other nurseries and is working closely with affected parents to identify available places. The recruitment of qualified early years educators remains a top priority for the organization, although they acknowledged the difficulties in finding suitable candidates. During this challenging period, the Rockwell House team made considerable sacrifices, such as delaying holidays and working extra hours, for which Busy Bees expressed their gratitude.
This closure underscores a growing issue in the early years education sector—staff shortages that directly affect providers’ ability to deliver care and maintain legal compliance. Busy Bees reassured parents that resolving these shortages remains a key focus and apologized sincerely for the disruption caused.
The broader trend of pre-school closures across Oxfordshire has highlighted the need for decisive action from local authorities and stakeholders. Addressing staffing shortages and financial challenges will be critical to ensuring accessible, high-quality early education for families in the region.
If you are looking for alternative childcare solutions or wish to connect with other local services, consider exploring childcare and family resources in your area. You can also create a free listing to connect with families and resources near you.
