Parents and staff frantic after childcare centre goes out of business without warning

"The kids don't understand why they can't see their friends anymore," said mum Catherine who was standing with her daughter Gabby in the car park of their Inspire Group childcare centre at Warriewood, that has now gone out of business.

Two other mothers, Dominica and Jess, were frantic.

"We can't get our children into another childcare centre because they're all full, so we have to take our kids to work," Jess said.

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The Inspire Early Learning Childcare Centre at Warriewood on Sydney's Northern Beaches went into liquidation recently, but no one told the parents or even the staff.

"We just turned up to work and the locks had been changed and there was a note on the door saying the centre owed the landlord over $200,000 in rent," former manager Beth said.

Frantic calls were made that day to former owner and founder Sophie May but she has failed to meet staff and parents to explain what went wrong, they say.

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"We are owed thousands of dollars in wages and unpaid superannuation," former staff member Monique told us.

"Where is our money?"

Parents are struggling to find placements given the school year has started and nearly all are working couples.

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The Inspire Group, once operated by May, has four other centres still open which are all attached to schools on the NSW Far North Coast at Murwillumbah East Public School, Burringbar Public School, Crystal Creek Public and Uki Public School.

"One would be worried for the kids, parents and educators at those schools," Catherine said.

Staff believe May is currently travelling, out of the country.