Primary Steps acquired Gosford Pre-Preparatory School in Ilford in October 2003 when the nursery chain, which operates 32 nurseries across south-east England, bought out Gosford House Nurseries.
The school caters for a maximum of 36 children between the ages of four and seven, but only half the places are currently occupied.
Parents received written notification on 7 June that Gosford Pre-Preparatory School would close when term finishes on 15 July. The parents have been angered by the short notice and claim that Primary Steps has done 'almost nothing' to promote the school and increase the number of pupils.
One parent, Helen Chapman, said, 'The parents and staff have done all they can over the last nine months to increase numbers, but Primary Steps and its directors seem to have had no interest in giving us help or support of any kind. It seems to us that Primary Steps is more committed to making money than to education.'
George Parker, chairman of the Gosford Pre-Preparatory School parents'
association, said, 'Last December I was informed that Primary Steps had decided to keep the school running for three years and, if pupil numbers could not be improved by then, it would be closed.
'The news that the directors have reneged on this decision came as a complete shock and it is a betrayal of the parents, staff and the children.
It is my considered opinion that it was never their intention to give the school a fair chance of survival.'
David Alexander, chief executive of Primary Steps, declined to comment on the situation.