Second Reading nursery closed by Ofsted

Greyfriars Day Nursery caters for children from three months to five years old

A second nursery owned by a company in Reading has been shut due to "serious concerns".

Ofsted confirmed it suspended Greyfriars Day Nursery from operating on Tuesday while its officers conduct an investigation.

The education watchdog said closing the nursery in Friar Street was not a decision it had made "lightly".

Bubbles at St Paul's Church, which is also owned by Greyfriars Ministries Ltd, was shut two weeks ago.

Greyfriars Day Nursery caters for children from three months to five years old and is affiliated to Greyfriars Church.

The nursery had 216 children on its roll according to its latest published Ofsted report in 2013, when it was rated "outstanding".

Reading Borough Council said it was aware of the suspension and added that it was helping parents to find alternative provision.

A spokesman for Ofsted told the BBC the nursery had been shut on a temporary basis due to "concerns about it".

He said the closure could last up to six weeks, but added a suspension could be revoked "at any moment".

It has not been confirmed whether the latest suspension is linked to the closure on 9 November of Bubbles, where concerns were raised that a child "may be exposed to risk of harm".

Greyfriars Ministries Ltd has been contacted for comment.