A nursery manager has described “an unfortunate incident” when a three-year-old boy walked home from a Middlesbrough school.
Little Owls Playgroup manager Kate Murphy said the boy went missing from the playground at the end of the school day when a member of staff was taking him and four other children to the after-school playgroup.
The youngster was reported missing from the playgroup which is based at Newham Bridge Primary School on Cayton Drive in Acklam on Tuesday, February 3 at 3.30pm.
She said she was “happy to explain” what happened in the incident which “thankfully for all, has a happy ending”.
She said: “At about 3.30pm on Tuesday, February 3 – the end of the school day - a member of staff was in the playground with a group of five children, taking them to the after school play group.
“One boy then ran into a crowd of other children and then out of sight.
“The alarm was raised in the playground and when he couldn’t be located the police were called and fortunately he was located very quickly.
“The boy’s family have been entirely understanding of what happened and we are grateful that they have assured us of their confidence in ourselves and continue to send the child to the nursery.
“We are always looking at all our safeguarding procedures and policies and will be working with Ofsted and Middlesbrough Council in order that we always have best practices in place.”
A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: “The matter was referred to us and has been looked into by the authority’s Early Years team who are satisfied that there are no ongoing safeguarding issues to be addressed with regard to this issue.
"However we are in regular contact with the playgroup and are happy to provide any advice or assistance they may require.”
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “We were informed that a three-year-old old boy had left the nursery called Little Owls in Newham Grange on Tuesday, February 3, at 3.30pm, and made his way home. The incident was referred to Middlesbrough Council.”
According to the Little Owls section of the Newham Bridge Primary School website, the facility looks after children aged between two and five.
Little Owls has two playgroups in Middlesbrough, with a second site at Marton Community Centre.
On the website the firm says: “All staff are DBS checked and have been specially selected for their exceptional skills with children.”
A report by education watchdog Ofsted after an inspection last February rated the facility as a level three “requires improvement”.
The inspection said children were “safe and secure because staff have a good understanding of how to safeguard them, by effectively minimising risks”.
It added that the playgroup was owned and managed by a community interest company and employs two members of childcare staff.
At the time of the inspection, the nursery had nine children on its roll.
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