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Two-year-old girl dies at nursery | Two-year-old girl dies at nursery |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A two-year-old girl who died at a nursery may have been killed after a children's activity with a playhouse "took a tragic turn", police have said. | |
Essex Police and ambulance services were called to Eton Manor Day Nursery in Chigwell at 1115 GMT. | Essex Police and ambulance services were called to Eton Manor Day Nursery in Chigwell at 1115 GMT. |
The child was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, and certified dead at 1141 GMT. | The child was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, and certified dead at 1141 GMT. |
An Essex Police spokeswoman said the child will be identified on Friday, when post-mortem tests will take place. | |
An investigation, involving the Health and Safety Executive, Ofsted and the nursery, has begun. | |
Family 'distraught' | |
The Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Initial inquiries suggest the death was a result of children's activity involving a playhouse that took a tragic turn. | |
"The family are understandably distraught." | |
Staff at the nursery are helping police with the investigation into the incident. | |
The nursery is closing as a mark of respect and to facilitate the investigation Eton Manor statement Police said the parents of the girl were at the hospital and family liaison officers had been appointed to help them. | |
In a statement, Eton Manor and the directors of Casterbridge Care and Education Ltd said: "Our thoughts are with the child's family at this terrible time. | In a statement, Eton Manor and the directors of Casterbridge Care and Education Ltd said: "Our thoughts are with the child's family at this terrible time. |
"We are obviously co-operating fully with the Essex Police investigation. While we don't want to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation, this appears to have been a freak playground accident. | "We are obviously co-operating fully with the Essex Police investigation. While we don't want to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation, this appears to have been a freak playground accident. |
"At the request of the police, we have not spoken to the members of staff who were in the play area at the time of the incident. | "At the request of the police, we have not spoken to the members of staff who were in the play area at the time of the incident. |
"It is a position of great privilege and responsibility to care for children and the safety and security of those children is of the utmost importance to us. | "It is a position of great privilege and responsibility to care for children and the safety and security of those children is of the utmost importance to us. |
"We have informed the families of the other children at Eton Manor of this incident and the nursery is closing as a mark of respect and to facilitate the investigation." | "We have informed the families of the other children at Eton Manor of this incident and the nursery is closing as a mark of respect and to facilitate the investigation." |
'Good safety measures' | |
The nursery said it was offering counselling to people affected by the incident. | The nursery said it was offering counselling to people affected by the incident. |
An Ofsted spokesman said: "Ofsted is aware of a tragic incident at Eton Manor children's day nursery, Chigwell, Essex. | An Ofsted spokesman said: "Ofsted is aware of a tragic incident at Eton Manor children's day nursery, Chigwell, Essex. |
"Ofsted is liaising with the relevant agencies. We offer our sincere condolences to the child's family at this sad time." | "Ofsted is liaising with the relevant agencies. We offer our sincere condolences to the child's family at this sad time." |
The watchdog's website shows that the nursery was last inspected in January 2006. | The watchdog's website shows that the nursery was last inspected in January 2006. |
In her report, inspector Lisa Paisley said: "Children benefit from being cared for in an environment where good hygiene practices are maintained." | In her report, inspector Lisa Paisley said: "Children benefit from being cared for in an environment where good hygiene practices are maintained." |
She added that the provision for protecting children is good, with "good measures in place to ensure that risks to children's safety, both indoors and outdoors, are minimised". | She added that the provision for protecting children is good, with "good measures in place to ensure that risks to children's safety, both indoors and outdoors, are minimised". |
However in 2005 inspectors found the acceptable ratio of staff to children was not always met. | However in 2005 inspectors found the acceptable ratio of staff to children was not always met. |
The nursery was also told to ensure children aged under two were cared for in groups no larger than 12. | The nursery was also told to ensure children aged under two were cared for in groups no larger than 12. |