A Medway nursery is being investigated by Ofsted amid claims a two-year-old boy with Down’s syndrome went missing.

Toddler Daniel Kay allegedly escaped from the St Justus Montessori Pre-School Day Nursery before being found by another parent at busy Darnley Road around 100 yards away.

The manager of the pre-school, in Clifton Close, Strood, denies the toddler wandered off from the nursery without staff realising last Monday.

Education watchdog Ofsted confirmed it has launched an investigation into the nursery, whose doors were closed this week.

Daniel's mother Clarissa Lecras, from Strood, said she was shocked when she was told what happened to her son by another parent a week after her son allegedly escaped.

Ms Lecras, 22, said: "One of the parents found him on Darnley Road and took him back to the nursery.

"Apparently the manager turned around to the parent and said not to tell me because I would get the place closed down.

"When I found out I was disgusted, livid and angry that my son was left in their care. To find out that he went missing is unbelievable.

"I've been crying my eyes out to the fact that this has happened to Daniel.

"Anything could have happened, someone could have taken him. He has no safety awareness – he could have been run over or seriously hurt."

Daniel, who started at the Strood nursery in June, has now been moved to another pre-school by his mother.

St Justus Montessori manager Rosemary Coleman said the allegations were "pure gossip from another parent".

She added: "I'm baffled that the parent has not called me to discuss or raise the issue with me and that it has taken a week for any issue to be raised."

An Ofsted spokesman said: "We can confirm we are investigating the nursery, but because it is an ongoing investigation we cannot confirm why at this stage."

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