Shock over sudden closure of nursery

A DUNDEE nursery has closed with just a few days’ notice — leaving many parents without care places for their children.

Green Shoots Nursery, based at Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate on Brunel Road — which was formerly named Technotots — was due to shut its doors at 6pm today.

Parents and staff were only told of the closure at the start of this week.

One worker told the Tele that the nursery could no longer afford to keep running.

A meeting was held last night between parents whose children attend the nursery and owner/manager Angela McGoldrick.

Rachel McKinnon, assistant manager at the nursery, said: “We are closing down at 6pm.

“I have only just been told that I’ve lost my job but parents were sent letters on Monday.

“I’m not entirely sure what happens from here. We have been very quiet and everyone knows how businesses work, so all the staff are understanding.

“We know that the owner has tried and tried to keep the nursery afloat but there is only so much that she can do.

“We’ve been in touch with other nurseries around the city to try to get the kids who come here into other places.”

A source added: “The staff are completely devastated and there are parents who have already paid — one parent had just paid £500.

“It is ridiculous — there wasn’t any warning. What are the kids’ parents supposed to do now?”

The closure has affected the Lynch family from Charleston more than most.

Debbie, 39, sends her son Lennon, 2, to the nursery. Debbie’s daughter Leah, 18, also sends her daughter – Debbie’s granddaughter – Dakota, 2, to Green Shoots.

Debbie said she isn’t sure how she will manage with childcare, adding: “Lennon has been here seven months now, fulltime. I’m stressing out as I’ve just gone back to work and will have to find childcare.

“I’m shell-shocked, to be honest. He’ll have to settle in somewhere else now, and he’s not three until November.

Leah, who is a full-time mum, said: “I went to see about another nursery today, near Ninewells, and they said they had been flooded with emails from parents from Green Shoots.

“They said they’d taken four children from here already this week, so places will be filling up fast. It’s just been sprung on us out of nowhere.”

Ms McGoldrick declined to comment today.

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Leah and Dakota