Gweneth Smith fears for the safety of her 4-year-old granddaughter Cleo – after the youngster suffered five severe injuries at nursery, leaving her scarred for life
A devastated gran says her non-verbal granddaughter has been scarred for life after a series of accidents at nursery.
Gweneth Smith now fears for the safety of 4-year-old Cleo, who is autistic and has found herself in a “horrendous ordeal” after suffering five severe injuries within two years. Last week, the tot was left needing stitches from a gash in her knee following an incident at Riverbrae nursery in Linwood, Scotland, on Friday, 7 June.
It marks the third time that Cleo has been injured at the nursery, it has been claimed. Her gran Gweneth, 51, from Paisley, claims staff told her that Cleo had tripped on a seashell in the playground, but the concerned family have since requested to see CCTV footage of the accident.
Gweneth said multiple incidents at Riverbrae and Foxlea nurseries caused “tremendous harm and ongoing trauma” to the 4-year-old, leaving her with scars on her head, shin and knee. An investigation has been launched following the latest accident. Riverbrae is a specialist nursery for children with complex needs, where Cleo receives one-to-one supervision.
Gweneth said: “She was terrified and several doctors had to hold her down to get four stitches. It has been a horrendous ordeal for her. When a child gets one-to-one care you think they’ll be safe. Now we are worried about her going to nursery.” Last October, a separate incident saw Cleo struck on the head by another child. The next day, she was rushed to hospital after the same child pushed her head onto a table.
Three teachers were allegedly present at the same time, with one sitting at the table next to Cleo. Gweneth says Cleo has been left “traumatised” after being hurt at the centre once again. Recalling the worst incident yet, she said the tot was left with a nasty gash in her leg “like she had been slashed by a knife”.
On Halloween in 2022, the youngster was rushed to hospital after an incident at Foxlea nursery, where she attends twice a week. The nursery reviewed CCTV footage which showed a teacher who was wearing high heels fall backwards onto Cleo’s shin, leaving her with a huge gash.
Gweneth who has power of attorney over Cleo’s autistic mother, submitted a complaint to the Care Inspectorate. She said: “The wound was horrific, it looked like she’d been slashed with a knife. They claimed they thought blood coming through her tights after was part of her pumpkin costume then suggested Cleo must have been sent in like that. It was despicable.”
The Care Inspectorate investigated and said staff had kept the wound uncovered so parents could see it, but the watchdog found that medical advice and attention should have been sought by the nursery after the incident. Six months later, Cleo suffered a head injury at Foxlea. Staff said the injury came after she fell on the spike of a large sensory ball. Gweneth said: “Cleo is my reason for living. She is so precious. I don’t want other families to have to go through this.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “The safety and welfare of children and young people in our education establishments is our priority. We are aware of this incident and are investigating the matter in line with our policies and procedures. A previous incident was investigated fully.”
