Nurseries shut by Ofsted over safeguarding worries

Two nurseries run by the same company have been temporarily closed by Ofsted over concerns about children's safety.

Parents of children at the Playday sites in Hemdean Road and Milestone Way, both in Caversham, were contacted on Monday evening informing them of the closures, which Reading Borough Council says could last until 22 February.

Director Jan Day told the BBC it was appealing the suspension and its priority was the well-being of staff, parents and children and it hoped it would reopen sooner.

Ofsted said it did not comment on individual cases.

The inspection body can suspend a childcare provider's registration if it believes a child or children "may be at risk of harm".

Its website says suspensions do not always mean that the childcare provider has done something wrong.

The action allows Ofsted time to look into its concerns or give it, or a provider, time to take steps to reduce or remove any possible risk.

Reading Borough Council said it had been informed and was "seeking clarification" by Ofsted.

The authority said its Family Information Service was available to help parents seeking alternative childcare.

The Hemdean Road nursery was most recently rated as "Good" by Ofsted following its last inspection in 2022.