A CHARITY-RUN nursery in Bournemouth has been forced to close following a review of its financial viability.

YMCA Bournemouth, which operates Teddy’s Place Day Nursery in Westover Road, said it had been a “difficult decision” to shut the nursery, which looks after up to 25 children aged two to five and employs eight staff members.

The nursery, which opened in 1988, was rated ‘good’ at its last Ofsted inspection in August 2015, with the inspector finding staff “very sensitive to children’s individual needs” and offering “excellent support for children with additional learning needs”.

It also found play areas were “bright and welcoming and enable children to make choices in their play. This helps them to become confident and independent learners”.

Tania Ferreira, whose three-year-old daughter attends the nursery, said she was “disappointed” it was closing and is now trying to secure a place at another nursery.

“The staff were great, and a manager who worked there for decades really understands all the children’s needs. I am really sorry for those who will lose their jobs”.

Teddy’s Place is registered to accept government funded places, offering 15 hours of free childcare a week, and partly re-invests its income into the work of the YMCA, which supports the community through housing and youth work.

A spokesperson for YMCA Bournemouth said: “The YMCA Bournemouth Board of Trustees have reviewed the financial viability of the nursery and also their strategic vision for the future work of YMCA Bournemouth in the community and have decided to close the nursery.

“It has been a difficult decision and they want to thank our parents for entrusting their children to us and to re-assure them of our commitment in helping them with transition to another setting for their children in September.”

“With government funding, it’s really hard to get the place you want at the times you want,” Tania added.

“I put my daughter on the nursery waiting list almost one-and-a-half years ago and only now I’ve been offered a place in the afternoon, but not at the time I requested.”