A day care centre has been told to shut for six weeks as Ofsted investigates a “serious” incident.

The school watchdog has instructed the Oxhey Early Years Centre to temporarily shut its day care service after an “isolated incident” last week.

While information is limited at this point, it is understood that the matter is being “taken very seriously” as the centre hopes to prevent anything similar in future.

Hertfordshire County Council’s safeguarding team and Ofsted are investigating and as a result the day care will be closed for up to six weeks.

In a letter sent to parents and carers, the early years centre explained it is “working with all regulatory bodies” to investigate what happened. 

“All parties involved in the incident are aware and are working with the relevant bodies to support the investigation so the matter can be dealt with as swiftly as possible,” the letter read.

It continued: “As the day care has been instructed to close, there will be no charge to any parent during this time”.

The nursery school at the same site is able to offer care to any child who is three years old.

One grandparent, whose grandson attends the day care, says that the family is “very concerned as to why they are not being given any information” after contacting the centre.

They continued to say that the family is “extremely anxious” as no further details on what this incident involved has been provided.

Watford Observer: Ofsted are looking into the isolated incident Photo: PAOfsted are looking into the isolated incident Photo: PA

The grandparent said: “How are any other parents of a child who attends there or previously attended there supposed to not feel agitated and scared of their child’s current or past care within this nursery?”

Ash Patil, the chair of directors at Oxhey Early Years, said: “I was concerned to hear about an incident at our day care last week.

“The matter is being taken very seriously and we are working with the county council’s safeguarding team and Ofsted to understand how it happened, and what we need to do to prevent any similar incident in the future.

“On Ofsted’s advice, the day care will be closed in the first instance up to six weeks while the investigation takes place.

“I’d like to apologise to our parents for the inconvenience this will no doubt cause, but I am sure they will agree that it’s important to get to the bottom of what happened.”

Ofsted has been contacted for further information.