Half of ABC centres under review

Around 47 ABC Learning childcare centres will remain open in Western Australia next year while the future of a further 43 is up for review, receiver Chris Honey of McGrathNicol says.

Mr Honey has written to ABC parents and staff nationwide advising them that most centres will remain open in 2009.

Mr Honey said 656 of the centres would continue to trade as normal after December 31 this year under a "sustainable business model". Some 47 centres in WA will remain open.

He said this would provide certainty to the parents of about 80,000 children.

Mr Honey said he hoped also to "give certainty" next week for another 30,000 children using the remaining 386 ABC Learning centres that are still under review.

"This will be very welcome news for all parents with children at these centres," Mr Honey said.

"As a first step I am pleased to be able to provide certainty to as many parents and staff, as quickly as I can."

Mr Honey said he expected a number of the 386 remaining centres also would remain open next year.

"However we need a little more time to examine these centres in more detail, and to ensure that the correct decision on their future is made," Mr Honey said.

"I have written to parents and staff at these centres to emphasise that this does not mean their centre will necessarily be closed.

"It simply means we need more time to examine possible performance improvement initiatives."

He said he was conscious of the impact of the uncertainty on parents and staff.

"I again encourage parents to support the team at their local centre and re-enrol their children in the normal way," Mr Honey said.

"We are very grateful to the vast number of parents and staff at ABC Learning centres who continue to support their local centres and staff in these very difficult and uncertain times."

He said the receivers would continue to work with the federal government on a plan to secure the centres into 2009.

A list of those centres that will continue to operate into 2009 and those that remain under review will be posted on www.childcare.com.au.