Police investigate alleged assault at pre-school

Police are investigating an alleged assault at a pre-school that has since closed.

The inquiry relates to Ducklings Pre-School in Creaton, Northamptonshire, and follows a report to police last month about a "physical assault" on the premises.

The pre-school shut permanently on 19 January after failing to meet safeguarding and welfare requirements set out by Ofsted, which had already taken regulatory action.

Northamptonshire Police said no arrests in connection with the investigation had been made.

Ofsted said it first became aware of concerns about children's safety in November, before police were later alerted to the alleged assault.

In December, inspectors returned and found the pre-school had not fixed earlier safeguarding problems and that new concerns had emerged.

Ofsted suspended the ability of the school to operate, saying children could be at risk of harm.

The pre-school later told the regulator it wanted to give up its registration on 15 January.

It has now closed and is no longer allowed to provide childcare.

Police said their investigation into the alleged assault on 22 December is still at an early stage.

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said: "We are in the very early stages of this investigation and need to speak to the complainant in order to ascertain the circumstances before we can progress further."

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