After baby's choking death, how safe are our nurseries?

The early years sector has moved to reassure parents that nurseries are safe following updates to official standards.

The government's new safer eating measures for early years childcare came into effect in September.

The parents of Oliver Steeper - who died in 2021 after choking on his food at nursery - welcomed the measures after campaigning for change since his death.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said the reforms "brought about permanent change in the early years sector".

Oli died in hospital six days after he choked on chopped pasta at the Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent.

His parents, Lewis and Zoe Steeper have received a six-figure settlement without an admission of liability from the nursery, which closed shortly after Oli died.

An inquest found Oli died as a result of misadventure.

At the time he ate pureed meals at home and nursery staff told his parents that solids could be blended before being fed to him.

In a report, the coroner raised concerns about paediatric first aid training and staff education over weaning.

Measures in the new guidance include that childcare providers must talk to parents about the stage of weaning their child is at, prepare food in a way to prevent choking, and ensure children are always observed while eating.

Mr Leitch said many providers "adopted good practices" before but the guidance and the Steeper family's campaigning had "basically made this a mandatory obligation, and therefore everybody will sit up and take notice".

Catherine Weller, manager at City Way Nursery in Rochester, said she "completely" understands if parents are concerned but that children were safe at nursery "if everything that should be in place is there".

She said her nursery was Millie's Mark accredited and had a LifeVac anti-choking device - one of more than 1,450 that The Oliver Steeper Foundation has distributed.

"I think it's important that you view settings before you register your little one," Ms Weller said. "Ask as many questions as you can around safety."