York Nursery Closed After Death Of Three Year Old In Playground

Nursery Closed After Death Of Three Year Old In Playground

A nursery remained closed today following the death of a three-year-old girl who became entangled in a piece of equipment in a play area.

She was taken to York District Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

North Yorkshire Police said they did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances.

The scene was cordoned off while officers investigated the incident and Ofsted and the Health and Safety Executive have been informed, a spokeswoman said.

The accident happened in an outdoor play area at York College Nursery, which would be closed today, the spokeswoman said.

Officers were called to the area on Sim Balk Lane, York, at around 2.35pm yesterday by the ambulance service.

The force spokeswoman said police did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances and it appeared that the girl has become entangled in a piece of play equipment.

She urged anyone with information to contact them.

A spokesman from the City of York Council yesterday offered sympathies to those who knew the three-year-old girl.

He said: "All relevant agencies are aware and will be working together over the next few days.

"This evening our thoughts are with the family of the child and staff at the nursery."

No-one was available for comment at York College.

The nursery website says the facility provides full daycare provision for children aged between six weeks and five years.

It opened in 2007 and has three play rooms, each with access to a fully enclosed outdoor area.

An Ofsted inspection carried out in September 2009 said the overall quality of provision at the nursery was good.

The inspector said in the report: "Risk assessments, which cover the indoor and outdoor environment of the nursery, reduce the possibility of accidents. Children are taught to be safety conscious and they show a sound understanding of how to keep themselves safe."

The outdoor facilities at the nursery are described as "superb".

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