A nursery group has urged parents not to hold the door open for others at drop-off and pick-up following an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Childbase Partnership, which looks after 6,000 children in 44 day nurseries across England, has sent out a ‘high priority’ email to parents about security measures after three children died in the knife attack in Southport.
An ‘alert’ was issued to all nurseries in the group on Tuesday morning to reassure parents that the settings were reviewing established security procedures which staff must follow to meet ‘a variety of threats’.
Lorna Wigley, quality and health and safety director of Childbase Partnership, called on parents to refrain from holding the door open for others at nursery and to report any concerns to staff ‘immediately’.
Text messages saying doors are locked and that no one can enter the building without being buzzed were sent yesterday morning after the tragic stabbing incident at a summer school on Monday.
Laura Jones from Romford said she received a message from the academy school she sent her 8-year-old daughter to, reassuring parents their children are safe.
‘We are big Swifties in the house, and I don’t know why but it brings it closer to home. Her stage school finale is a Taylor Swift medley so it feels closer,’ she told MailOnline.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital
Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday
Another of the children killed in the horror Southport stabbing attack was today named as Alice Aguiar, nine
Lorna Wigley, quality and health and safety director of Childbase Partnership, called on parents to refrain from holding the door open for others
She continued: ‘My husband didn’t want to send my daughter into her summer stage school today. We were both a little more mindful this morning sending her off and knowing where she is.
‘I’ve never thought, and I send her to the same drama school every Wednesday, I never thought that I should be scared sending her somewhere like that.’
Mrs Jones added that although she appreciated receiving the messages from the school, she was dismayed that they even felt they had to send a text.
‘It was sad to get the message this morning saying that the doors are locked, and no one can get in unless they are buzzed in. It’s nice to hear, but it’s sad they had to even send that message.
‘All the parents in the WhatsApp group were saying thank you for reassuring us we were worried this morning.’
An email also reminded parents that only people registered on a form will be permitted to pick up their child from nursery.
Ms Wigley said: ‘Following the tragic event in Southport on Monday 29th July 2024, I am writing to reassure you that an alert has been issued to all nurseries which are currently reviewing both security equipment and the established procedures staff must follow in meeting a variety of threats.
‘As always, your support and vigilance are vital in ensuring that the efforts of your highly trained nursery staff team achieve the desired results.
‘Please do not hold the door open for anyone when you and your child enter the nursery building and report any concerns you have to staff immediately.’
She added: ‘The security of our children in nursery is an absolute priority and our policies and practices are therefore subject to continuous review and evaluation by the company’s Health and Safety team and, where necessary, external specialists.’
The local teacher saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11, while nine children were taken to hospital. One has since died, with five still in a critical condition
Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat
Floral tributes are pictured near the scene in Hart street where a teenage suspect was arrested after people were stabbed in Southport
Ms Wigley told parents that in the event of an identified threat, nursery staff will follow a lockdown procedure – which involves ‘a sweep of the garden’, moving the children inside, locking windows and doors, and drawing blinds.
She added that parents’ support ‘remains vital’ to provide children with the ‘best possible security’.
A father of a two-year-old, who received the communications from his daughter’s nursery in Hertfordshire, said he opened the email straight away on Tuesday as it was marked as ‘high priority’.
The parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I found it chilling that the nursery where my daughter spends her day would be considering the attack something that could generate a potential risk to all nurseries or indeed all places where children spend time together.
‘I’d not considered for a second that my daughter would need any extra protection today as thankfully these hideous incidents are so rare and we live in a very peaceful town.
‘I love our nursery and have always felt they take security very seriously, but when I pick my daughter up today, I will be additionally cautious to make sure I don’t feel tempted to hold the security door for someone else, even if I know them.’
In a statement, Ms Wigley added: ‘In the face of this tragedy, we as responsible early years providers have heightened the continuous focus on security in our 44-award winning, employee-owned day nurseries.
Emergency crews and forensic teams descended on the scene after 13 people were stabbed
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent 13 ambulances, specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene
‘While parent roles in maintaining the best possible security in nursery are promoted in weekly newsletters, the horrific events in Southport have served as a reminder of our collective need for vigilance and the value we place on the strength of our parent partnerships.
‘Our heartfelt condolences go out to all those affected by this tragedy.’
A spokesperson for the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said: ‘We are all devastated and heartbroken about the tragedy in Southport yesterday. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and the whole community in Southport at this incredibly difficult time.
‘Shocking incidents like this are extremely rare and parents will know that nurseries and other providers will have policies and procedures in place around pick-up and drop-off, supervising visitors and what to do in an emergency. It is important that all childcare providers keep these up-to-date.
‘The safety and wellbeing of children is paramount in early years settings. All nurseries across the UK, many of which operate holiday clubs throughout the summer, follow rigorous safeguarding procedures and these are inspected by regulators. These measures are in place to keep all our children as safe as they can be.’
This comes after three girls were stabbed to death by a hooded knifeman who stormed a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport and seven people, including five children, were rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Bebe King, six, was pronounced dead shortly after the attack, with heartbreaking photographs show her cuddling her father, Ben King.
She attended Churchtown Primary School in Southport, MailOnline understands.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital.
Earlier today, ‘happy smiley’ Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday.
Floral tributes pile up by the side of the road as locals flock to share their sympathy after the tragedy
Five further children, aged between six and 11, were in a critical condition alongside two female adults, among them hero teacher Leanne Lucas, who ‘bravely tried to protect them’.
Alder Hey Children’s hospital this afternoon released a statement confirming that seven children had been taken to the site for treatment. One of those was Alice, and of the others, two remain in a critical condition, a spokesperson said.
A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned following the incident in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday.
Merseyside Police confirmed that a 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but living in Banks, was arrested and is in police custody. It’s believed the ‘hooded’ attacker arrived in a taxi coincided with parents picking up their children
In a statement, Bebe’s family said: ‘No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.’
Churchtown Primary School released a statement this afternoon and said: ‘Our whole Churchtown Primary School community is utterly heartbroken by the tragic events that have taken place. We stand united with all of our families and the wider Southport community during this incredibly difficult time.’
The family of Alice also paid tribute to their ‘princess’.
They said: ‘Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.’
Devastated relatives of Alice said she had been taken by a ‘despicable human being.’
An aerial view of Hart Street, where a horrifying knife attack took place just before midday
Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a stabbing spree
As the nation reeled from the senseless violence, the attack was branded ‘utterly horrific’ by King Charles and ‘horrendous and deeply shocking’ by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The shocking nature of the frenzy – likened to a scene out of a ‘horror movie’ – was laid bare in a press conference update this evening.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: ‘My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47 this morning at an address in Southport.
‘When they arrived, they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries.
‘It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance hall when the offender, armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack the children inside.
‘We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited Southport this afternoon and thanked emergency service workers who responded to the knife attack, telling them: ‘I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives.’
He added: ‘It is sometimes really important in life just to come and say a simple thank you to all of you, so let me do that, on behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, on behalf of the country – thank you.’
The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something ‘like a horror movie’, witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said.
Locals said the alleged knifeman arrived at the dance studio wearing a black hooded top and facemask in a taxi and got out without paying.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack
They said the suspect then walked into the studio through a front door that was unlocked for fire safety reasons.
Emergency services said the scene was ‘horrific’ and ‘chaotic’ as they arrived at the children’s club.
Police said the suspect, who was born in Cardiff, is from a villiage just outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by detectives on Monday afternoon.
All the casualties are being treated in hospital, including children’s hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester.
At the scene today, flowers and teddies were left by the police cordon. One message in a ‘Thinking Of You’ card said ‘thoughts and prayers’ are with those affected and was signed: ‘Love – Southport.’ Another said: ‘Fly high with angels little ones.’
In a social media post, Taylor Swift shared her horror at the ‘loss of life and innocence’ at the workshop.
She wrote: ‘The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock.
‘The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders.
‘These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.’
A JustGiving page – set up by Taylor Swift fans – has already raised more than £100,000 to help families affected by the tragedy and pay for the two funerals, with more than 6,500 donations.
Taylor Swift said she is ‘completely in shock’ after the ‘horror’ of the Southport knife attack
The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop
Sir Keir Starmer today opened Cabinet by acknowledging the ‘truly horrific’ event in Southport.
‘He said the thoughts of the whole Cabinet and the entire country would be with those who were attacked and their families who are going through an unimaginable ordeal,’ the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.
‘He added that it was hard to find words to express what the grieving families and community must be going through.’
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street in Southport this morning.
Ms Cooper, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell walked to the cordon together, each holding a bouquet of flowers.
A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were ‘thinking of everyone involved’.
