'Scramble' for places after school's sudden closure
A parent said he has been left with a "scramble" after the school where his child was due to start in September announced it would be closing.
Leicestershire County Council said governors at Diseworth C of E Primary School voted to close the site due to falling pupil numbers and staff departures.
It currently has 35 registered pupils - less than half its capacity - and is due to close at the end of the summer term as all teaching staff have either left or moved to other jobs.
Adam O'Brien, whose child was due to start at the school in September, said: "There should have been consultations."
"Our situation is a bit precarious," he added. "This has just been dumped on us from a great height, with barely any time to react, leaving us with a massive black hole."
His partner, Alex, said their child had got on "brilliantly" at the site's pre-school.
"Since she's been here, she's just massively flourished," she said.
Regarding the closure, she said: "They just bulldozed through it with no effort to work with any of the families."
Gemma Calderon, who travels almost 15 miles (24km) to take her two children to the school, added: "We are absolutely heartbroken.
"Everything about the school was just unique, magical, special. Sadly, it's just been handled so badly.
"As parents, we knew nothing of what was going on."
In a statement, Leicestershire County Council said all teachers had moved to new jobs and because their notice periods started on 31 May, there was not enough time to recruit new staff.
"A guidance document has been produced for all parents on how to apply for a school place, and a drop-in session will be held to support people in knowing the process on moving to a new school in time for the start of the year," a spokesperson said.
The authority said it was going through the statutory process for any formal closure.
It added that the school, near Castle Donington, had "not been financially sustainable" due to falling pupil numbers and declining birth rates.
Charles Pugsley, cabinet member for children and families at the council, said: "This is a sad day and I want to thank the governors and staff for everything they've done to try and make the school viable."
Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, external, on X, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to [email protected], external or via WhatsApp, external on 0808 100 2210.