Bosses of an under-fire north-east nursery have been told their business faces closure unless “swift improvements” are made to protect the tots in their care.
Inspectors from the Care Inspectorate made an unannounced visit to Peek-a-Boo Nursery in Fraserburgh last month.
They were concerned about the protocols in place to protect children against possible risks and have served a formal improvement notice. They have a fortnight to meet the inspectors’ standards.
A crucial issue flagged up by inspectors was that there must be a system in place to ensure child protection concerns are properly reported to the authorities.
This came following reports that a toddler was injured at the Buchan Road nursery in the last 12 months.
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “This improvement notice clearly lays out the areas which require swift improvement, so that children are protected and the care they receive is of a standard they have the right to expect.
“We will return to this nursery in due course to check on progress. If we are not satisfied that swift and sustained progress is being made to address these issues, we will not hesitate to take further action.”
If standards are not met when inspectors return to Peek-a-Boo Nursery, the business’s registration could be removed and inspectors have the authority to close down care services.
An unregistered nursery could not take care of youngsters on a regular basis including in nursery classes, crèches, after school clubs or play groups.
The Care Inspectorate spokesman added: “Every child in Scotland has the right to safe, good quality and compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights.”
However bosses at the nursery on Fraserburgh’s Buchan Road have offered an “assurance” to parents that the issues will be resolved.
A spokesman for the nursery said: “We are naturally very disappointed with the findings following the Care Inspectorate’s recent visit.
“We will continue to invest in staff training, new resources and to seek external support, to bring the nursery up to the required operating standards and we are encouraged that the Care Inspectorate and Aberdeenshire Council will to work with us to remedy this situation.
“We are now much clearer on the specific areas which require improvement and our focus will be targeted on introducing change so that Peek-a-Boo Nursery is a child care centre of which Fraserburgh can be proud.”
He added an assurance the staff remain “absolutely committed” to resolving the outstanding areas of concern within the inspectors’ deadline of May 30, and thanked parents for their support.
