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North Tyneside Council, which is under Labour control, said it immediately suspended Campbell after being notified of his arrest by the police and he was later sacked.
Director of children's services Rebecca Wall said: "We are sorry some families learned about this matter online rather than hearing from us directly.
"We know parents place immense trust in us, and we recognise how unsettling this situation will be for many."
She said the council's "ambition" was to be as open and transparent as possible, but there had been legal limitations on what could be shared while the case progressed through court.
"As soon as we became aware of the outcome, we took immediate steps to contact families and provide reassurance and support," Wall said.
Conservative councillor Lewis Bartoli, who represents the Tynemouth ward, said the council should have proactively kept across the court proceedings to warn parents at the earliest opportunity.
"There's no doubt this was a difficult process, but once he pleaded guilty was the point the council should have contacted parents.
"You can't even imagine how difficult it must have been to find out third hand through social media," Bartoli said, adding: "It leaves more questions than answers. It's a real failure."
A council spokesperson said: "We remain committed to listening to families' concerns and responding to any questions they may have."
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