Nursery chain pleads guilty to health and safety breach
Catherine Gaunt
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The managing director of one of the UK's largest nursery groups pleaded guilty in court last week to health and safety failings at one of its settings.
The legal action is being brought by South Cambridgeshire District Council after an investigation into policies and procedures at Just Learning's Cambourne nursery, where ten-month-old Georgia Hollick choked to death on a piece of apple in 2006 (News, 19 April 2006). An inquest ruled that the death was a tragic accident.
The case being tried is not directly related to Georgia Hollick's death but follows a prolonged investigation by the council following the accident.
Just Learning is being prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and being charged for failing to ensure that persons who may be affected were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
The council alleges that no proper procedures were in place for the assessment of risks.
Jonathan Bell, managing director of Just Learning, admitted one breach of health and safety law at the Cambourne site at the hearing at Cambridge Crown Court last Wednesday (10 December).
A company spokesperson said, 'The company has pleaded guilty. It would be inappropriate to comment further until the case is concluded in the New Year.'
The judge adjourned sentencing until 10 March.
The maximum penalty for a breach of the Act is a fine and costs.
Just Learning closed the nursery in February, following the BBC 'Whistleblower' programme which uncovered serious safety breaches (News, 28 February). The nursery is now under new ownership.
