Mother claims toddler was left to wander off from playgroup

A MOTHER has claimed her two-year-old boy managed to "escape" from his playgroup without being noticed and was found 160 metres away after almost being hit by a car.

Kerry-Ann Middlemass, from Gorebridge, said her son Jack Robertson was found by another parent after slipping away unnoticed from Arniston Playgroup, which rents a space from Stobhill Primary in the village.

The full-time mother claims the parent who found the toddler on his own outside a shop on Burnside Road told her he had almost been hit by a car.

Arniston Playgroup has put new security procedures in place following what it admitted was "a serious incident", but denied the youngster had got any further than the school gates.

When Miss Middlemass, 21, went to collect Jack on Monday afternoon, she said she was told of his "wee adventure".

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."

Miss Middlemass has made a formal complaint following the incident and says her son, who had only been attending for a week, will not be returning to the playgroup.

She added: "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."

A letter was sent out to parents on Tuesday to inform them of new procedures for collecting their children to ensure no youngsters leave the building without an adult.

In a statement to parents, Arniston Playgroup committee 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."