By Cara Sulieman
A TODDLER was almost run over after he escaped from his nursery and wandered 160 meters down the road before being found by another parent.
Two-year-old Jack Robertson slipped away unnoticed from Arniston Playgroup in Midlothian on Monday on what nursery staff called a “wee adventure”.
The parent that found him on Burnside Road in Gorebridge told his mother, Kerry-Ann Middlemass, that he was almost hit by a car.
But the nursery – who rent space at Stobhill School – said that he only managed to get as far as the gate.
“Not acceptable”
It wasn’t until Kerry-Ann arrived at the nursery on Tuesday afternoon to pick up her son that she was told what happened.
She said: “I dread to think what might have happened. When I went to pick him up they told me he had been on a wee adventure.
“I thought they meant he had been playing outside but he had actually escaped from the nursery.
“My little boy could have been taken away or murdered. It’s not acceptable.”
The full-time mother has made a formal complaint and won’t be taking Jack back to the nursery, which he had been attending for one week.
She said: “There’s no chance I’m taking Jack back there and a couple of other parents were saying they’re not taking their children back either after what happened.”
“Serious incident”
A letter was sent out to parents at the nursery on Tuesday, explaining the new security measure that had been put in place since the incident.
The statement to parents from Arniston Playgroup said: “As some of you may be aware, a serious incident occurred on Monday 18 January at 3pm.
“Unfortunately one of the children got out of the double doors and to the gate and he was returned by another parent within seconds.
“However, to ensure this does not happen again, we are putting new procedures in place with immediate effect.
“All children will be taken to the playgroup door fully dressed and handed over personally to the person collecting them.
“We regret this incident happened and have apologised to the parent involved.
“We would like to reassure you that the playgroup is a safe environment for your child to attend.”
A spokesman for Midlothian Council said: “While the Arniston Playgroup – a voluntary group – leases facilities from Midlothian Council at Stobhill school, the council has no responsibility for the operation and management of the playgroup.”
