An Ofsted spokesperson said, ‘We suspended the registration of Co-operative Childcare nursery in Oxford to ensure children are safe while we investigate concerns about safeguarding.
‘We have instructed the nursery to take steps to ensure it can provide a safe environment for young children. Ofsted is working with the nursery to make sure these requirements are met.’
The setting, previously based at the Oxford and Cherwell Valley College Blackbird Leys campus under the group's former name Imagine Co-operative Childcare, was moved to a new £1m purpose-built building in 2009.
The 79-place nursery, rated good in its last inspection, was one of the first of the group's settings to be re-branded as Co-operative Childcare.
In 2011, the nursery was handed an enforcement letter by Ofsted after the inspectorate received a notification from the provider that raised concerns about a child being left unattended in the garden for a few minutes.
On the advice of Ofsted, the nursery sent a full report addressing specific points about the incident.
The inspectorate said it was satisfied that the provider took prompt and appropriate action and decided it was not necessary to visit the setting or take further action.
A spokesperson for Co-operative Childcare said, 'Following the inspection and subsequent temporary closure of our Blackbird Leys nursery an improvement action plan is well underway.
'We have already taken steps to address the issues raised, which were mainly around internal processes and procedures. We recognise the points made and take the welfare, safeguarding and educational needs of our children very seriously and are keeping parents fully informed.
'We are co-operating fully with Ofsted and are providing our staff team with additional training to ensure we consistently reach the high standards we set ourselves at all of our nurseries.
'Co-operative Childcare is committed to supporting our children and parents and have offered free transport and alternative childcare provision in Oxford during this short closure period to keep disruption to a minimum.
'We hope to re-open the Blackbird Leys nursery early this week.'
