Six women have been arrested following the death of a one-year-old boy at a nursery in Dudley, West Midlands. The child died on 9 December last year, prompting a criminal investigation after Ofsted visited the premises.
West Midlands police said they are treating the boy's death as suspicious. Three women, aged 20, 23 and 50, were arrested on 16 December on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and released on bail with strict conditions. A further three women, aged 51, 53 and 37, were arrested on Wednesday; two on suspicion of corporate manslaughter and one on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
The nursery, located on Bourne Street, has been closed by Ofsted along with other linked premises. The police stated that the family is being supported by specially trained officers. A postmortem has taken place, but further tests are needed to establish the exact cause of death.
West Midlands ambulance service reported that medics were called to the nursery at 3.19pm on 9 December. Resources including two ambulances, a trauma doctor and an air ambulance were dispatched. Crews found the child in a critical condition and commenced advanced life support, which continued en route to Russells Hall hospital in Dudley.
An Ofsted spokesperson confirmed that the nursery's registration was suspended on 14 December due to concerns that children may be at risk of harm. Inspectors visited the following day and issued a welfare requirements notice, setting out actions the nursery must take to ensure children's safety. Ofsted is supporting the police investigation.
