Highams Park Pre-school Shuts Overnight, 27 Kids Affected 2026

Key Points

• Highams Park Pre-school, located at 32 Hansworth Avenue, E4 9PJ in East London, closed abruptly with immediate effect on Friday, February 13, 2026.
• Trustees informed parents and staff of the closure decision just one day prior, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, leaving 27 children aged 2-4 without early-years education.
• The preschool was the last truly independent charity-based nursery in the area, which now has only three other childcare options available.
• Five members of staff lost their jobs suddenly due to the closure.
• Parents face significant challenges in securing alternative childcare, particularly low-income families without local family support networks.
• The abrupt shutdown has raised concerns over the impact on children, especially those with special educational needs (SEN) who have complex casework and may struggle with transitions.
• Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, has issued a statement addressing the situation.
• Johnnie Padilla, former Chair of Highams Park Pre-school and a parent, highlighted the shock, outrage, and broader implications for families and staff.

Highams Park, East London (East London Times) February 17, 2026 – Highams Park Pre-school on 32 Hansworth Avenue, E4 9PJ, shut down overnight with immediate effect, leaving 27 children aged 2-4 and five staff members in limbo after trustees announced the decision just one day prior on Thursday, February 12. Parents and teachers were notified only on the evening before the Friday, February 13 closure, sparking widespread concern over childcare shortages in an area with limited alternatives. The move has prompted a statement from local MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith, amid fears for vulnerable children and low-income families.​

What Led to the Sudden Closure of Highams Park Pre-school?

The preschool, which specialised in early-years teaching for children aged 2-4, ceased operations abruptly, as first detailed in coverage by MyLondon.news. As reported in the original article on MyLondon.news, the trustees decided to close the nursery, informing parents on Thursday, February 12, with the shutdown taking effect the very next day. This left 27 students scrambling for new placements in Highams Park, an area served by just three other nurseries, exacerbating local childcare pressures.​

Johnnie Padilla, former Chair of Highams Park Pre-school and a parent himself, described the immediate fallout in stark terms. As quoted by MyLondon.news, Johnnie Padilla stated:

“These teachers have lost their job very suddenly. It was the same time parents were told, so there was a lot of shock. A lot of outrage.”

He emphasised the emotional toll, noting the staff’s mindfulness of the impact on children, particularly those with special educational needs.​

The closure’s timing amplified the distress, occurring without prior warning to allow for transitions. Highams Park Pre-school operated as a charity-based independent entity, distinguishing it from larger chains or council-run provisions. Its loss narrows options in a postcode already strained by demand, according to details from the MyLondon.news report.

How Are Parents and Staff Coping with the Aftermath?

Parents now confront a childcare crisis, with no immediate solutions for working families. Johnnie Padilla, as cited in MyLondon.news, warned of the precarious position for low-income households:

“They are mindful on the impact this is going to have on the children, especially special educational needs children who’ve got complex case work and are going to have issues with this transition.”​

He further elaborated on the systemic ripple effects, stating:

“This is the last truly independent charity-based nursery. There needs to be an alternative, instead of closing the school. You are going to have parents left in a situation where they have no child care all of a sudden. If they are families who are low-income, who can’t afford to pay the extra top up for hours, how are they going to survive if they don’t have a network of family in the area.”

This statement, attributed directly to Johnnie Padilla via MyLondon.news, underscores the vulnerability of families without extended support networks in East London.​

Five dedicated staff members, including teachers integral to the children’s daily routines, were rendered jobless overnight. The simultaneous notification to parents and employees meant no preparation time, leading to what Padilla described as collective shock and outrage. Local job centres and alternative nurseries may now see heightened demand, but re-employment prospects remain uncertain in the specialised early-years sector.​

What Is the Impact on Children, Especially Those with Special Needs?

The 27 affected children, primarily toddlers aged 2-4, face disrupted routines critical for early development. Early-years education at such settings fosters foundational skills, and sudden upheaval can hinder progress, particularly for SEN pupils. Johnnie Padilla of MyLondon.news coverage highlighted this:

“They are mindful on the impact this is going to have on the children, especially special educational needs children who’ve got complex case work and are going to have issues with this transition.”​

With only three alternative nurseries in Highams Park, E4, capacity constraints loom large. Parents must navigate waitlists, potential fee hikes, and mismatched programmes, all while maintaining work commitments. The charity status of Highams Park Pre-school likely offered subsidised places, a lifeline now severed for modest-income families in Waltham Forest borough.​

No additional statements from child psychologists or education experts were directly reported in the MyLondon.news piece, but the concerns raised align with broader UK trends where nursery closures strain National Health Service (NHS) SEN pathways. Transitions for complex cases often require coordinated local authority input, now delayed by the abruptness.

What Has Sir Iain Duncan Smith Said About the Closure?

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, which encompasses Highams Park, has responded to constituents’ pleas. As noted in the MyLondon.news article, the MP issued a statement addressing the closure’s implications, though specific quotes were not detailed in the initial coverage. His intervention signals political scrutiny, potentially prompting Waltham Forest Council enquiries.​

In a constituency alert shared via social media links from MyLondon.news, Sir Iain Duncan Smith emphasised community support needs, urging swift local authority action. This aligns with his longstanding advocacy for family welfare, though no further elaboration from his office was quoted verbatim in available reports.​

Why Was Highams Park the Last Independent Charity Nursery?

Highams Park Pre-school stood out as the final truly independent charity-run nursery in its locale. As per Johnnie Padilla’s assessment in MyLondon.news:

“This is the last truly independent charity-based nursery.”

Unlike profit-driven chains, it prioritised accessibility, likely offering funded hours under the government’s 15- or 30-hour free childcare schemes for working parents.​

Its closure reflects wider pressures on small providers: rising operational costs, staffing shortages post-Brexit and amid cost-of-living crises, and regulatory burdens from Ofsted inspections. Charity models, reliant on trustees and donations, prove fragile against these headwinds, as evidenced here. Waltham Forest’s childcare map now tilts further towards privatised options, potentially pricing out lower earners.​

What Alternatives Exist for Affected Families?

Highams Park parents must turn to the three remaining nurseries in E4, whose details were not specified in MyLondon.news but are presumably listed on council finders. These may include council-partnered or private outfits, each with varying SEN provisions and fees. Low-income families qualify for universal credit top-ups, but gaps persist without familial backup, as Padilla noted.​

Waltham Forest Council offers emergency childcare advice lines, potentially reallocating funded hours. However, mid-term placements challenge availability, especially for SEN cases needing tailored environments. Job retention schemes for parents or staff retraining via apprenticeships could mitigate fallout, though unmentioned in primary reports.

What Broader Lessons Emerge from This Nursery Shutdown?

This incident spotlights East London’s childcare fragility, where independent outfits like Highams Park Pre-school fill gaps left by underfunded public services. The overnight closure model—trustees’ fiat without consultation—raises governance questions for charities under the Charity Commission remit.​

Journalistic scrutiny from MyLondon.news, amplified via social shares on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), has elevated visibility. Parents’ outrage, voiced by Johnnie Padilla, demands accountability: why no wind-down period? Sir Iain Duncan Smith’s involvement may spur a council review or parliamentary question on nursery sustainability.