Nursery shut by inspectors over child safety fears

Ofsted have not revealed what happened which led to the suspension of the registration

A nursery has been forced to shut for six weeks after it was served a suspension notice from inspectors over child safety fears.

Grasshoppers Nursery in Fulwood, Preston, had its registration to provide childcare services suspended by Ofsted on 11 September while an investigation takes place.

Inspectors had "reasonable cause to believe that children may be exposed to a risk of harm", Blog Preston reported.

Parents were asked to pick up their children early last week.

Oftsed have not revealed the exact nature of the incident which led to the suspension of the nursery's registration.

But a notice stated that the action did not mean the nursery, on Oliver’s Place, would be unable to provide care in future.

Good rating

Blog Preston said the Ofsted notice said that the purpose of the suspension was to allow time for "further enquiries to be made and/or for steps to be taken to reduce or eliminate any risk of harm".

It read: "We are taking this step because we reasonably believe that the continued provision of childcare may expose children to a risk of harm.

“Suspension does not automatically mean that a provider will be unsuitable to provide care in the future, or that we will cancel a registration.

"We only take steps to cancel a registration if we consider that a provider is no longer suitable to provide childcare."

Grasshoppers' social media accounts, website and contact numbers are not currently active.

The nursery opened in 2019 and was rated "Good" in all areas when it was last inspected by Ofsted in 2021.