A MALVERN nursery will close unexpectedly at the end of the year, making 21 staff redundant and leaving almost 130 children without childcare provision.

Staff were told that Kiddi Caru Day Nursery’s “ongoing financial performance” was to blame for the decision to officially shut it on Wednesday, December 31.

Parents have expressed shock at the news, with many worried they will have to give up work in order to look after their children.

Steven Sykes, whose four-year-old son Philip attends the nursery at the Enigma Business Park, said: “This closure comes as a complete surprise to the staff and parents and will cause misery at what is supposed to be the happiest time for children and families.It is frustrating that such an important service for our families and the economy is left to the whim of big business.”

Only last week a new £5,000 sensory garden was unveiled at Kiddi Caru, funded by a grant from its owner Childcare Corporation.

Mr Sykes added: “The letter sent to parents from the company’s head office indicated that they had tried everything to make the nursery viable. This is news to the staff and parents, who were unaware that there was a problem.

“Many parents have said they would have been happy to pay higher fees if it meant the nursery would stay open as this would be cheaper than giving up their job.”

Robert Smith, father of four-year-old Amelia, said he had broken the news that she would not be returning to Kiddi Caru in the new year: “She’s very upset. She’s been there about two years and got to know the carers and the nursery assistants. It’s huge for the children. To have to explain to your daughter that the nursery is shutting is quite a hard thing to do.”

Caron Pardoe, spokesman for the Hampshire-based Childcarer Corporation, revealed that Malvern was the only nursery affected out of 20 across the country.

Mrs Pardoe said staff, made up of both full and part-time employees, had been approached about the possibility of relocating to another branch of the nursery. The nearest is in Wolverhampton.

She said: “It was our fervent hope to avoid inconveniencing our parents with such an event through the sale of the business as a going concern.

“Unfortunately we received no interest from local or national providers. However, we will continue our efforts throughout the remainder of the year, especially following the many expressions of support from our parents.”

Staff from Kiddi Caru said they had been ordered not to comment on the news.