Aberdeen parents have spoken of their disappointment after a childcare service was forced to close due to a staff shortage.
Parents who use Mastrick Early Learners in Aberdeen have been told their children will now need to move to a new group in a different part of the city.
Aberdeen City Council blamed the move on “staffing difficulties”.
Marie Birnie’s two-year-old son Ollie is one of the children who have been allocated a place in nearby Cornhill.
The mum-of-two said: “Ollie joined before the summer holidays and attended sessions twice a week in the morning, and he absolutely loved it. I got a letter in the post saying that it will be cancelled at the end of the month due to staffing, and that they’d given us other places we could choose from. I was quite shocked.”
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Fellow mum Leanne, who is a bartender, had a similar experience with her two-year-old son Lucas.
She said: “There really wasn’t any indication that it was going to close.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said meetings have been held with families to ensure the childcare service continues at a different location.
He said: “Unfortunately, we have to temporarily suspend childcare services at Mastrick Community Centre due to staffing difficulties.
“The provision of Early Learning and Childcare remains a priority for us and the decision was taken only after careful consideration was given as to how to minimise disruption to the services offered at the centre and ensuring that families affected could be offered alternative provision.
“In order to continue to provide a service to all families who request it in the wider area, Cornhill Early Learners is able to offer similar provision within a more suitable environment for children to access outdoor play. A member of staff from Mastrick Early Learners will move to Cornhill Early Learners to support a smooth transition for the children and their families.”
Councillor Gordon Graham, who represents the Northfield and Mastrick North ward, said: “This is causing problems to many parents and I am very concerned with the staffing difficulties being experienced across the city.”