The Case investigation
This page will be updated regularly as the case continues but unfortunately we cannot report all of the matters that we have been informed of because legal proceedings are still being considered.
What we can report is that we were informed that Rhiya went out to play in the garden with the other children at approximately 10.30am. At approximately 10.55am, the staff called the children to go inside but Rhiya did not respond, she was discovered hanging in the playhouse by staff. A scooter was found in the playhouse that Rhiya was in. After a reconstruction was carried out, it is believed that Rhiya stood on the scooter to give her the height to look out of the gable ends. This scooter possibly came away from under her feet, leaving her neck and head trapped in the wooden structure. Rhiya died from a heart attack brought on by compression of the neck (corot artery).
Eton Manor, who is part of a chain of nurseries owned by Casterbridge Care and Education Ltd, released a statement to the press days after the incident stating “this appeared to have been a freak accident”.
We take great exception to that statement as in our view many of the facts we have been told show it to be anything but a "freak accident".
We cannot report all of the facts we have been told but they include as outlined above that Rhiya is completely unaccounted for by staff members for 25 minutes. We were informed by the investigating officer mobile phones were in use by a number of the carers during this time period.
The manufacturer’s guidelines state that the playhouse is not suitable for children under the age of three. Children at the nursery have had access to this playhouse from at least the age of 12 months. Rhiya was two.
The staff member that performed CPR on Rhiya was not trained in first aid.
Since Rhiya passed away, Eton Manor have been issued with three Improvement Notices1 under the Health and Safety at Work Act for the following reasons: -
- there was no documentary evidence that local risk assessments had been undertaken;
- there was no company policy on purchasing and procurement;
- the staff having responsibilities for health and safety had not been provided with adequate health and safety training to be capable of fulfilling their roles within the undertaking.
1Improvement Notices are served on bodies where an HSE inspector has found that they have contravened their duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Eton Manor nursery reopened four days after the death of our child, below are some of the statements they posted on their official website within a week of Rhiya passing away. These statements were stopped upon the request of a parent who felt that they were insensitive and inappropriate under the circumstances.
To date, the nursery continues to remain open.
UPDATE: Eton Manor re-register with Ofsted - March 2009
As this matter is currently being investigated by our solicitors and other relevant authorities, we are limited in the specific detail we can post at this time.
Eton Manor were due an Ofsted inspection by January 2009. This would have included Rhiya's tragic death and circumstances surrounding how she lost her life. However, In October 2008 Eton Manor re-registered with Ofsted, by doing so no record of previous inspections/reports prior to Oct 2008 are available to the public on Ofsted's website and most importantly, no reference to Rhiya's death. This in effect has "wiped the slate clean" for Eton Manor.
This is unacceptable on many levels. Firstly it shows a total lack of respect to our daughter who lost her precious life in their care. It is also misleading and dangerous to the public who have no choice but to rely on Ofsted for information on childcare provisions.
This matter will be pursued and taken to the highest authority until it is rectified and members of the public have access to this vital information. We will not allow our daughters death to be swept under the carpet.