SOUTHAMPTON: Pre-school at centre of security alert hopes for better future A Southampton pre-school at the centre of a security scare last year has started the new year celebrating inspection success.

Manor Park Road pre-school, Woolston, now hopes to put the past behind it.

As reported in the Daily Echo last February, the pre-school based at Woolston Methodist Church, was under investigation by Ofsted following the escape of two toddlers from the premises.

Two-year-old Katie Steele left the pre-school unchallenged and walked half a mile home.

In the second incident, ten days later, three-year-old Cameron Douglas left the classroom and was found crying by the side of the road.

But, in this latest Ofsted inspection, staff were delighted to receive a positive report that commended them for their quality of care and nursery education.

The report also said the children are cared for in a safe environment with staff showing good supervision.

The report said: "Particular care is taken at hand-over to and from parents to prevent children leaving the premises unaccompanied. These robust systems remain throughout the session as regular head counts are taken of children.

"Door handles have been placed out of the reach of children and as an extra safety measure a large stair gate is placed on the outside of the door, lessening opportunities for children to exit unaccompanied."

Shirley Goble, who has been the pre-school supervisor for 20 years, said: "Everyone knows about what happened last year and I want to leave that well and truly in the past now.

"This Ofsted report can mark a new beginning for us at Manor Road. What was such a bad year for us last year has ended on a positive note.

"It was a nice report and they said some lovely things about our staff and how well the children are doing. Since last year we have done a whole lot of work and really lifted our game.

"We are so pleased with this report especially because the last one was so awful. It has given us a real lift and all the staff are over the moon.

"The parents have been fantastic and stood by us throughout. It could have been so much worse for us, but they have been absolutely brilliant."