A Busy Bees nursery near Ayr Hospital has closed after parents mounted a petition signed by more than 1,400 people in an attempt to prevent the service shutting.
The nursery confirmed that Friday, July 31, was its final day. Busy Bees said the decision followed lower attendance and continuing difficulties recruiting staff. The closure came as an unexpected announcement for families who used the Ayr service.
Parents said they were left “stressed and upset” by the news, while one parent said families received “little notice” of the impending closure. Concerns were raised about staff potentially losing their jobs and parents having to find alternative nursery places at short notice.
Parents sought a buyer or more time
A petition was launched with two possible aims: reversing the decision or delaying the closure long enough for an investor to come forward. Sarah Donald, a parent involved in the campaign, said the group also wanted to help children find places elsewhere and support staff looking for work if the nursery could not be saved.
“Our goal is to save the nursery if we can or delay the closure and allow an investor to come forward,” Sarah said. “If that doesn't work then we want to help the kids get spaces elsewhere or staff get jobs in other places.”
Following the closure, Sarah confirmed that all staff had found new jobs elsewhere. Children aged over three had also secured places at other nurseries, according to the parent.
Nursery’s capacity and inspection record
The Ayr nursery was registered with Scotland’s Care Inspectorate from 2006 and could accommodate up to 72 children who had not yet started primary school. Its most recent inspection, in October 2024, rated the service good across the board.
Busy Bees operates almost 400 sites across the UK and Ireland. Yvonne Smillie, the company’s managing director for Scotland, said the operator had spent the previous 12 months examining ways to keep the nursery open.
“However, lower attendance levels and ongoing recruitment challenges mean we have had to make the difficult decision to close, and we are deeply sorry for the impact this will have on our families.”
She said Busy Bees understood the closure would disrupt families and its team, and said the company was committed to supporting them during the transition.
The closure ends the operation of the much-loved nursery near Ayr Hospital after the parents’ campaign failed to keep the establishment open. The source does not state the nursery’s exact street address or identify any further arrangements for families beyond the alternative places secured for children over three.