UMVA has learned that a nursery manager in southeast London sank her teeth into a toddler’s arm and then tried to hide the assault.
On November 24, the 57‑year‑old manager at the now‑closed Little Stars Nursery bit a young child’s arm during a routine pick‑up, later fabricating a story that the boy had injured himself out of frustration.
The following day, the nursery’s safeguarding lead called the parents to reveal that a staff member – the manager herself – was responsible for the marks.
Outraged, the parents confronted the shocking betrayal, describing the experience as “being absolutely mortified” and “a state of shock” that someone entrusted with their child’s safety could commit such an act.
Police were summoned and the regulator moved swiftly, suspending the nursery’s operation just two days after the incident, and the provider subsequently resigned its registration, leaving the centre permanently closed.
In court, the manager pleaded guilty to assault. Bromley Magistrates’ Court handed down a six‑month prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered her to pay £500 in compensation.
The family, who wish to remain anonymous, said the ordeal “put them through hell” and that they feel justice has not been fully served.
Amid the trauma, they expressed gratitude toward the whistle‑blowing staff who exposed the abuse, acknowledging that without their courage the truth might never have emerged.
