The decision to close the council-run centre was made at a closed Frankston Council meeting on Monday last week. Parents were shocked when they received notification of the closure late last week.

Bill Lewis, who works full-time, and his wife, who is employed part-time, have a three-year-old daughter at the centre.

Mr Lewis said the closure "came completely out of the blue". "Parents have not been well represented by councillors. We should have been included in the consultation process but instead the decision was made secretively, behind closed doors."

Lakewood offered full-time childcare for 35 children and Mr Lewis said the closure also meant some children would miss out on attending kindergarten.

"Erinwood preschool is right next door to the centre so the staff would take the kids there for kinder and bring them back.

"As most kindergartens operate in four-hour shifts it is too difficult to drop them off and pick them up. Now it looks like our daughter will miss out on attending pre-school all together, which is a crucial to a child's development."

Mr Lewis said the sudden closure had caused a flurry among parents to find alternative child-care for 2012 as many centres were already full. "We are looking for other places but we are worried about our child readjusting. With very young children, many of whom already have separation issues, it can be very difficult."

Frankston mayor Kris Bolam said the council had been committed to providing quality childcare services for more than 25 years and extensively considered a range of options before deciding to close the centre.

But federal requirements for children's services, including higher qualifications for staff and fewer children per staff member, meant smaller centres were no longer financially viable.

Parents will meet council representatives on Thursday night to discuss the issue.