An online petition has been launched in an attempt to save a Whittlesey nursery which has been forced to fold after it was booted out of two local schools.

Kidzone Child Care Services, which operates out of Alderman Jacobs Primary and Park Lane Primary, was told it had to vacate both premises last month without warning, according to secretary, Stephen Burrill.

He said: “The school served notice on us at Alderman Jacobs on June 7 and the Park Lane site on June 8, which we received on June 12.

“They have not given us any reason as to why they want us out. As far as I am aware, they did not consult their governors, they did not consult us and they certainly did not consult the community.

“They have destroyed a family-led community business, left a lot of families with nowhere to turn and left 12 staff redundant.”

Bosses at the service were handed a letter by the schools stating that their contract had been cancelled after a meeting to discuss the nursery’s recent ‘inadequate’ Ofsted report and when challenged, were told that they had exercised a clause which allowed “one years’ notice to be served by either party without prejudice and therefore no other reasons are required for this decision”.

Despite this, the services are expected to close on August 25.

Karen Burrill, manager at Kidzone, said in a letter to parents and carers: “We are unaware of any serious breaches, by our actions, that have brought either school into disrepute and which has demanded this course of action.

“We are unbelievably saddened and angered by both of the schools’ callous actions and we are still waiting for the reason, instead of working with us to develop and continue a sound business.”

The schools have since stated their intentions to provide their own child care service.

“Alderman Jacobs wants to ensure that there is no disruption to the child care provision offered to parents,” said head teacher Cathy Carlisle in a letter to parents.

“From September 2017, Alderman Jacobs School will begin offering wrap-around child care services for the children who attend our school.”

To view the petition, click here.