Busy Bees, which runs four college and university nurseries, is losing its nursery at Sutton Coldfield College in Birmingham.
Stepping Stones at Wales' largest further education college, Coleg Gwent, is also under threat, and two nurseries at the University of the West of Scotland are due to close in August (News, 12 February).
The 75-place nursery at Furness College in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, will shut at the end of July because it needs three more classrooms.
The nursery was originally due to close in 2011. Nursery manager Jean Fawcett said, 'They said the college was going to get funding from the Learning and Skills Council to build this fantastic sports facility and needed every inch of space. They are still waiting for funding. Then they claimed the nursery wasn't making a profit, but the college has charity status and the nursery can't be seen to make a profit.'
Mark Nicholson, assistant principal, said, 'Senior managers recommended closure due to pressure on teaching and learning space, overcapacity in nursery provision in the area and the level of subsidy required to run the nursery.'
Parents have set up a website at www.saveournursery.co.uk and 600 people signed their petition.
Ruth Rhodes, whose two-year-old goes to the nursery, said, 'We want to discuss other options. The college has buildings that aren't on the campus, lying empty. We are even prepared to run it ourselves, but at the moment they are not prepared to talk.'
Ama Uzowuru, welfare vice- president at the National Union of Students, said, 'Many students with children apply to a specific college or university because of the childcare facilities. It is unacceptable for this to be taken away.'