PARENTS have expressed shock at news that three Bradford nurseries will shut next month as the charity running them decides to focus on working with older children.

Nurseries based in the Gateway Children's Centre in Ravenscliffe and Mortimer House Children's Centre in Fagley and Summerfield Nursery, based at the Rockwell Centre in Thorpe Edge will close on March 24, according to operator, the Children's Society.

The charity says the changes are part of a national review of how it works, which will see it focus more on 10-18 year olds "suffering poverty and neglect."

Gareth Brown, who lives in Thorpe Edge, has a granddaughter who attends the Summerfield Nursery, and said all parents and carers were shocked when they received the letter informing them of the closure last week.

He said: "We've been told the society is contacting childminders, but these nurseries are more like schools where they can prepare for going to big school.

"These nurseries deal with children from some of the most deprived areas, so it is important to help get them ready for school.

"There are going to be a lot of kids who lose out on nursery places because the Children's Society feels its funding will be better spent on older children."

The Gateway Children's Centre Nursery has 83 children on its roll, and was rated "good" by Ofsted last year. Summerfield Nursery had 31 children on the roll in the last Ofsted inspection, when it also got a good rating. And the Mortimer House Nursery, which also was deemed good at the last Ofsted inspection in 2014, had 72 children on the roll at the time.

The changes also coincide with a shake up of Bradford's Children's Centres - the two centres run by the Children's Trust are being transferred to different operators later this year.

Rob Jackson, Area Director for The Children's Society, said: “Following a review we have decided we can have the greatest impact upon the lives of the most vulnerable children and young people across the country by focussing our work on supporting those aged 10-18.

“We are therefore withdrawing from our provision of nurseries and children’s centres in Bradford.

“Our three nurseries, which we run independently of Bradford Council, have been under-subscribed, making it increasingly difficult for us to cover the costs of running them.

“We have attempted to identify an alternative provider for the nurseries, without success, and our focus is now on working with the council to make sure the children who use our nurseries are found places elsewhere.

“We are also planning to transfer our two children’s centres back to the council on July 31 subject to the council’s tendering process to identify a new provider.”

Michael Jameson, Strategic Director of Children's Services at Bradford Council, said: "This is a national decision by The Children's Society which affects other areas of the UK.

"This change does not affect the children’s centre services that The Children’s Society delivers in Bradford which will be operating as normal and which will transfer to another provider after July.”

Sessions will be held for parents and guardians of children attending the Gateway Nursery today (Tuesday), Mortimer House on Wednesday and Summerfield Nursery on Thursday. The sessions run from 9am to 1pm.

Anyone effected can call the council's Families Information Service on 01274 437503 or email fis@bradford.gov.uk