East London Preschool Closes Abruptly, Leaving Families and Staff in Turmoil
An East London preschool has been shut down with immediate effect, creating chaos for parents and staff who received only one day's notice. Highams Park Pre-school, located at 32 Hansworth Avenue in the E4 9PJ postcode area, ceased operations on Friday, February 13, 2026, leaving 27 young children without educational placement and five employees without jobs.
Sudden Closure Sparks Outrage and Concern
The unexpected nature of the shutdown has generated significant distress among affected families and drawn attention from local political figures. Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, expressed deep concern about the situation, particularly regarding the lack of advance warning provided to parents who depend on the childcare services for their employment and daily routines.
Johnnie Padilla, former chair of Highams Park Pre-school and a parent at the institution, described the emotional impact: "These teachers have lost their jobs very suddenly. Parents received the news at the same time, creating widespread shock and outrage. Everyone is particularly worried about children with special educational needs who have complex casework and will struggle with this abrupt transition."
Padilla emphasized the broader implications: "This was the last truly independent charity-based nursery in the area. Closing it leaves parents suddenly without childcare, especially challenging for low-income families who cannot afford additional hours and lack local family support networks."
Financial and Compliance Issues Cited as Reasons
According to documentation sent to parents, trustees had informed the Local Authority in September 2025 about financial viability concerns and were considering closure at the end of the Autumn Term. The decision was accelerated when "significant health and noncompliance issues" were identified during a Premises, Health and Safety Compliance Check.
An anonymous teacher revealed that compliance paperwork had not been properly completed, explaining: "If our committee had addressed the necessary work from the beginning, this might have been avoided. We needed funding for a business manager who understood compliance requirements, but we lacked the financial resources to hire such expertise."
The teacher added: "We completed one compliance check, only to be told we needed another with improvements that couldn't be implemented overnight. The lack of clarity created a whirlwind situation that has now cost children their educational placement and staff their livelihoods, despite a waitlist of 50 children demonstrating clear community need."
Political Response and Council Position
Sir Iain Duncan Smith took to social media to address the crisis, stating: "I am deeply concerned that this announcement has been made without prior notice to parents. This creates significant disappointment and concern for families regarding both early education and essential childcare for working parents."
The MP confirmed he had contacted Waltham Forest Council's Early Years Department and learned that trustees made the decision based on "significant financial, management, and safety concerns." He has requested council intervention to provide parents with more time to arrange alternatives.
A Waltham Forest Council spokesperson responded: "Ensuring local children receive high standards of care and education remains our priority. While we support Early Years settings, we must also ensure they provide safe, inclusive, high-quality services. Unfortunately, trustees identified financial and management issues they felt unable to resolve."
The spokesperson clarified: "Every affected child will be supported in finding alternative placement. Importantly, the closure decision came from the charity's trustees, not the council. Funding cannot be provided to complete required contractual processes for delivering free early education places, as this aligns with statutory duties and legal requirements."
Historical Context and Immediate Consequences
Highams Park Pre-school, originally known as Handsworth Preschool, changed its name after relocating to its current address and taking over a nursery previously operated by Highams Park School. Despite the name similarity, the preschool maintains no connection to the school.
The closure leaves only three alternative preschool options in the area for the displaced 27 children, aged 2-4 years old. As a parent-run committee, families must conduct an emergency vote in March to determine whether the school remains permanently closed or might potentially reopen under different management.
The situation highlights broader challenges facing independent, community-based childcare providers in London, particularly regarding compliance requirements, financial sustainability, and the critical role these institutions play in supporting working families and early childhood development.
