The nursery is one of 28 settings run under the Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries franchise.
The Monkey Puzzle Group has said that the closure of the setting is not related to the incident in March when two members of staff at the Islington setting were dismissed after they were caught watching a video with indecent images of children.
The setting was found to be inadequate during a subsequent inspection, which Ofsted said was brought forward as the result of conerns raised about suitability and safeguarding.
The two former members of staff have been granted bail until the end of month pending further inquiries.
Will Campbell, UK managing director of the Monkey Puzzle Group, said, ‘The decision to close the premises is entirely unrelated to the other recent incident at the site. It has been taken because we have been unable to secure the long-term position of the site with the landlord. We have given our parents one month’s notice in line with our terms and conditions.
‘We have been trying to negotiate a long-term lease with the landlord for three years which we have been unable to do. The landlord has informed us that he has planning permission to convert the building into flats.
‘We have contacted other nursery providers within the vicinity and have provided parents with the names of those providers with spaces available. Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries have offered all affected staff alternative employment within the group.’
He added, ‘We regret the situation but we have been left with no alternative. We would like to thank all parents for their loyal support over the past three years and we have very much enjoyed being a part of the Islington community.’
In a letter sent to parents, Rebecca Crosby, operations manager for the Monkey Puzzle group, said that it is currently in advanced negotiations for a building in Highbury, which should open in September. She also says the nursery can offer temporary or permanent places at the West Kensington nursery.
In the Ofsted report, inspectors commented on the setting’s ineffective induction training, staff supervision and deployment of staff that the report says leaves practitioners unclear on their ‘roles and responsibilities in the setting, particularly with regards to safeguarding.’
It goes on to say that ‘some areas of the premises are not clean’ and ‘some children see their cups and plates being washed in the sink in the nappy changing areas.’
Parents have expressed their shock at the report, claiming that it is unfair to staff who provide excellent care.
Emma Jacobs, a parent whose child attends the nursery, said, ‘ I think the report is unfair to staff, who are really good at their jobs. Most parents would have been keen to keep the nursery open as their children are very happy there.'
Ms Jacobs, who enrolled her baby at the setting just four months ago, went on to criticise the way Monkey Puzzle's head office has handled the situation.
'We are frustrated by head office's refusal to engage with parents or staff. Politeness and understanding of the impossible situation they have placed parents in, would have counted for a great deal of good will.
'They enrolled children without making parents aware of the nursery's possible closure. We are now looking at finding new childcare arrangements at short notice, taking time off work to settle children in. I know of people who have signed new rental leases due to the proximity of the nursery.'
