Mum horrified as toddler found in Edinburgh nursery grit bin 'cold and shivering'

A mum has told of her horror after her son was found “cold and shaking” in a grit bin at a nursery in Edinburgh.

The incident took place at the Early Learning and Childcare service at Maybury Primary School on Turnhouse Road on the afternoon of January 16.

According to the Edinburgh Evening News, the toddler was discovered “limp” inside the grit bin after allegedly being missing for around an hour.

His mum, who did not want to be named, told the paper her son was found “cold, shivering and disoriented” inside the closed container.

STV News understands that police were made aware of an unaccounted-for child within the nursery, but that the child was traced before any officers attended.

It is understood ambulance crews received a call, but the family took the child to hospital to get checked over themselves.

Extra measures, including risk assessment from health and safety, and operations officers, are said to have been put in place following the incident.

Extra staff are also said to have been deployed in the outdoor play area, with CCTV in use and staff provided with communication devices to share information about children’s movements in the nursery.

The grit bin is now secured, padlocked, and monitored daily by the school’s janitor.

Edinburgh City Council leader Jane Meagher said the Care Inspectorate was immediately informed of the incident.

She said: “I was shocked to hear about this awful incident and can only imagine how frightening it must have been for the child’s mother and family. I’m so sorry they had to go through this.

“It’s simply unacceptable that such a young child could be unaccounted for and put at risk, particularly in a place where they should be safe and cared for.

“I want to reassure the family that the Care Inspectorate were immediately informed, and urgent improvements have already been made at the nursery.

“I am insisting that these are independently reviewed to make sure all lessons have been properly learned and that this can never be allowed to happen again.”

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “The Care Inspectorate has been appropriately notified of an incident involving a child at this nursery.

“A concern has also been raised with us about this service, and we will consider all information given to us carefully.

“We will continue to liaise with the service and provider to ensure that the health, well-being and safety of children is paramount and will take any further action as required.

“If we uphold a complaint, we publish the outcome on our website. Every child in Scotland has the right to good quality, safe care which meets their needs and respects their rights.

“Anyone with a concern about a service can contact us on 0345 600 9527.”