THE Co-operative has refused to comment on an Ofsted letter saying senior staff and managers had been suspended as the regulator shut its Blackbird Leys nursery in Oxford.

Ofsted issued a temporary suspension after a surprise inspection in Cuddesdon Way, because it believed children were “at risk of harm”.

Ofsted found evidence of a large number of accidents and was unhappy with “inadequate” staffing.

The letter to parents by Oftsed inspector Esther Gray added a number of staff had been suspended recently but the Co-op refused to comment about this.

The nursery, built in 2009, has 30 staff and 72 places for children aged three and four.

A spokesman said the nursery would open “next week” but Ofsted said the Co-operative had to prove requirements were met.

A statement from said: “We have already taken steps to address the issues raise, which were mainly around internal processes and procedures. We recognise the points made and take the welfare, safeguarding and educational needs of our children very seriously.”