PARENTS have been left in the dark after a nursery was closed down following a visit from police.

Siblings Nursery in Wheatley had its Ofsted registration withdrawn following the visit on March 29 and parents were told it would be shut for six weeks.

Ofsted and Thames Valley Police both declined to tell the Oxford Mail why they visited the nursery.

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A letter sent to parents seen by the Oxford Mail said: “As many of you may be aware by now, at lunchtime today [March 29] Siblings Nursery was visited by our local authority designated officer (LADO), a safeguarding officer from the Oxfordshire Child Protection Team, and two plain-clothed detective constables from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit of Thames Valley Police.

“An external issue has prompted this visit and, it is with a heavy heart that we must inform you all that Siblings Nursery will regrettably be closed for the next 6 weeks.

“We must stress that this is a precautionary measure from Ofsted and is by no means a result of anything occurring within the nursery.

“It was stressed to us that this is not a personal issue or a reflection on the setting or its staff, but a procedural matter.”

Ofsted spokeswoman Charlotte Peet said: “We can confirm that Ofsted has suspended the registration for this nursery pending the outcome of an investigation.

“We are unable to comment further at this present time.”

Police confirmed officers attended but said it was ‘unrelated’ to Ofsted’s investigation.

When contacted by the Oxford Mail a member of staff at the nursery declined to comment.