Parents are ’baffled and upset’ at a decision by the loss-making Children’s Centre to close its facilities for young children.

Nurseries, breakfast, after school and holiday clubs will close on March 23 as part of a shake-up by the charity which wants to refocus on its core activities.

The Children’s Centre has also given notice that it won’t be renewing its contract with the government to provide family placement services, which include adoption and fostering.

Up to 20 roles will be lost among early years staff and also some in central and charitable services.

Latest financial accounts show The Children’s Centre made a net operating loss of £1.313m last year, requiring a transfer from reserves.

The Children’s Centre closed its loss-making Bonwick House nursery in September last year. Now its two remaining nurseries - at its base on Woodbourne Road in Douglas and one at Laxey Glen - will shut too.

Parents took to social media to complain that the charity didn’t contact them about the ending of early years facilities including Out2Play, the Forest School in its current format and Actions Songs and Rhymes.

One said: ’Many found out last night via social media, which is not acceptable. You owe those people a sincere apology.’

Another posted: ’Totally unacceptable and to say I’m struggling along with everyone else to find alternative arrangements for after school care is an understatement!’

A third said: ’If you are withdrawing the "ideas and programmes, all designed to give help and support" to children, what will the name of the charity be changed to? Surely it can’t stay as "The Children’s Centre".’

The Children’s Centre took over the lease of the Laxey Glen Pavilion in 2015 and uses it as the base for the Forest School and Laxey Nature Nursery, which only opened last September.

Garff MHK Daphne Caine said the announcement came as an unwelcome shock to many parents as well as loyal staff, some of whom have worked there for 10, 20 or more years.

She said: ’My children attended the baby unit then the nursery and later the holiday club for several years until recently.

’I have spoken to people affected and they are baffled as well as upset.’

Mrs Caine said the loss of the early years provision, particularly the holiday club, will be a ’nightmare’ for working parents - and will leave a ’huge gap’ in a service sector already under-provided in the island.

She added: ’It’s hard to comprehend the timing of the announcement, especially given the recent significant investment in the excellent nursery facilities at Laxey Pavilion.

’I suppose we must respect that the charity’s decision has been taken in the best interests of the charity but I’d hope that other island providers would move quickly, perhaps to take over premises and fill the gap.’

The Children’s Centre last year began a three-year programme to move from a reliance on government contracts to a charity that is self-sustaining.

Latest accounts show income, mainly from the provision of children and family services, totalled £2.59m in 2016/17 but total expenditure was £3.9m, including £3m on staff and training costs.

The operating loss of £1.313m was turned into a surplus of £357,294 only thanks to a transfer of reserve funds, mainly from parent company The Children’s Centre (Holdings) Ltd which paid a donation of £1.17m.

Four staff earned more than £60,000 and one between £70,000 and £80,000.

There was a fund-raising target of £890,000 to support its charitable project.

It has budgeted for a net loss of £89,700 this year and the accounts forecast that additional funding from reserves similar to that needed last year will be required.

Contract and commercial activities made a £122,667 profit last year.

Associated company The Children’s Centre (CPD) Ltd made a net loss of £68,825.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said the Children’s Centre’s decision ’came out of the blue’.

He said: ’I’m disappointed that The Children’s Centre has given notice of ending the contract. Their contract with DHSC was coming to an end in October anyway so I’m grateful that they have given the maximum notice.’

Mr Quayle said the Department of Health and Social Care will work with the charity to ensure a smooth transition - and help those affected by the changes.

’The DHSC will now go out to tender to give the opportunity for other businesses to apply,’ he said, adding that he was confident that an alternative provider for family placement services will be found.

Chief executive Fiona Dawson (pictured left) said: ’In our 150th year, The Children’s Centre is taking active steps to refocus its activities back to its core services.

’The Children’s Centre will now focus on its charitable services. It will no longer use income raised for the charity on those activities that can be provided by universal service deliverers.’

There are currently 95 people working at The Children’s Centre. A consultation with staff that may be made redundant will take about four weeks. The charity says it will try to minimise the number of redundancies by not filling vacancies or renewing temporary contracts.

The Community Farm and MOBEX outdoor adventure will continue to operate.