London Labour MP's nurseries breached child safety rules, Ofsted finds

A nursery company founded by Ilford South Labour MP Jas Athwal has breached child safety regulations, education watchdog Ofsted has said. Mr Athwal, a London MP and the Commons' biggest landlord, started Village Day Nurseries in 2007. The chain runs three sites in Essex and Derby, caring for up to 300 under-fives.

But recent Ofsted inspections criticised all three nurseries, according to The Times . One site faced scrutiny over a "significant event relating to the supervision of children". It comes as Mr Athwal, who was elected in July, faces scrutiny over his property dealings .



Tenants in some of his 15 rental properties claim to be living with black mould and ant infestations. The self-styled "renters' champion" said he was "shocked and sickened" by these claims and has sacked the managing agent. Last year, two of Village Day's nurseries received Ofsted complaints.

Orchard Garden in Derby breached safety rules in September. Royal Village Nursery in Southend-on-Sea failed to meet some safeguarding requirements in February. A third nursery in Leigh-on-Sea was served a "welfare requirements notice" in 2021.

All sites have since taken action and now rank as "good". Both Village Day Nurseries and Mr Athwal, who remains a director of the nursery chain, have been contacted for comment..