AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a mother was left feeling 'sick to her stomach' as her son, 2, managed to leave nursery and get onto the road alone.

Mum Heather complained to New Millside Pre-school after she dropped her child off at nursery, only to spot him close to stepping in the road as she checked her car mirror.

The mum said she had dropped him off inside the nursery building with the manager and staff present before she got back in her car.

The nursery on Narbeth Drive, Aylesbury, has confirmed it is investigating the incident, which happened on Wednesday, January 24 at about 9am.

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Heather, who wishes to conceal her surname, said:  "Usually the children enter, put their water bottle down and someone helps them put their coat away.

"As we were about to pull away I looked up and see his green coat and my son clutching his water bottle about to step onto the road - which at around 9 am as you can imagine is very busy with school and regular traffic.

"He was about to step into the road with cars oncoming before I could get to him, and a parent from the preschool grabbed my son to prevent this.

"My son has walked back past the manager and out of the door, and past several waiting parents all of whom know he isn't supposed to be there and on his own but didn't intervene or notice at all.

Heather then praised fellow parent Chelsea Clark for being "an absolute hero" when stopping her son from entering the road.

She said: "The woman who saved his deserves some recognition I feel. She absolutely saved his life. I just was too far to get to him any sooner.

"I then ran and grabbed him and then I went to the main door to get his belongings and asked why my son was outside. The manager didn't say much.

"I just cannot understand at all how this was allowed to happen, the absolute lapse in attention that could have robbed my child of his health and gotten him killed.

"Clearly safeguarding is an issue across the board. I hope more places take note and have a look where they may be able to increase the safety of little ones in their care.

"Things could have ended so much worse. The thought is truly unbearable."

Heather has praised fellow Chelsea Clark for being "an absolute hero" and stopping her son from entering the road.

Chairperson at New Millside Preschool Karen Braithwaite said: "We have contacted all relevant local authorities and governing bodies and are undergoing internal investigations."

Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education Anita Cranmer, said: “The pre-school alerted the council to this serious incident immediately after it happened.

"Obviously such a significant incident is of considerable concern to us and we are working closely with the pre-school to determine exactly what happened and, of course, how they can ensure nothing like this can happen again.

"This setting has an otherwise good reputation; one of our early years consultants has been working with them this week and has supported while an immediate review of processes and a risk assessment has been undertaken.

"We do not have any immediate concerns for the safety and wellbeing of children at the setting and we will work constructively with the pre-school to ensure all processes are 100% robust and that there can be no repeat of such an incident.”