An Ofsted inspection has found that staff at a Merseyside nursery are not consistently keeping children safe, after a two-year-old was handed to the wrong grandad and driven away. The watchdog's report, published today, highlights significant weaknesses in safeguarding procedures at Kids Planet Crosby.
Safeguarding failures identified
The nursery referred itself to Ofsted after the incident on June 10, when two-year-old Rosie was picked up by another child's grandfather. Her mother, Jody Riley, 37, from Formby, received a call from the nursery informing her of the mistake. The toddler was driven away for at least 10 minutes before the man realised the error and returned her.
Inspectors found that 'children's welfare and wellbeing' and 'leadership and governance' require improvement. The report states: "Leaders have not ensured that safeguarding procedures are implemented consistently to keep children safe. Weaknesses in staff deployment, supervision and collection procedures place children at significant risk of harm."
Immediate actions taken
During the inspection, issues with children's privacy during toileting and intimate care were also noted, though the provider took immediate action to address this. However, the report concludes that children do not consistently experience the safe and well-organised environment they deserve.
Despite the weaknesses, Ofsted acknowledged that children develop warm and secure relationships with staff, who know their care routines well. Yet, these positive aspects do not outweigh the significant weaknesses in promoting children's welfare.
Enforcement action planned
The nursery failed to meet safeguarding standards and the requirements of the Childcare Register. Ofsted plans to take enforcement action, issuing a Welfare Requirements Notice with a four-point action plan, with a completion date of July 20, 2026. In the other four areas inspected—achievement, behaviour, curriculum, and inclusion—the nursery met expected standards.
A spokesperson for Kids Planet said: "We remain deeply sorry for the serious safeguarding incident at Kids Planet Crosby. This was an isolated and unprecedented incident, caused by human error when relevant and well established procedures were not followed." They added that the company has implemented a comprehensive action plan and cooperated fully with authorities.
