A NURSERY has been recognised for its outstanding training of staff to deal with potential life and death situations.

Temple Sutton Early Years in Eastern Avenue, Southend, which caters for children from birth up to the age of four, is the first nursery in the borough to gain Millie’s Mark accreditation for “outstanding childcare practices”.

The award was launched following the tragic death of nine-month-old Millie Thompson who died in a Manchester nursery after choking on food seven years ago.

Following her death, Millie’s parents Dan and Joanne Thompson, together with the National Day Nurseries Association, developed the accreditation and endorsement to help parents across the country to pick nurseries where all members of staff are paediatric first aid trained.

Ola Laniyan, the head of Temple Sutton Primary School and Early Years, was particularly proud of the achievement, and the efforts of her staff.

She said: “We are very pleased that the hard work and commitment of our excellent early years team has been recognised through this accreditation.

“Parents and carers in our community know what a fantastic job the staff do in our early years setting and their work gives children the best possible start to their education.”

Temple Sutton Early Years caters for up to 130 children a day. It is also rated “outstanding” by Ofsted.

All of its staff are now trained in extensive paediatric first aid course which gives them the confidence to know they have what it takes to one day save a life if needed.

Training includes being able to assess a wide range of emergency situations and prioritise what action to take.

This could be where a child is unresponsive and not breathing normally, a child who is bleeding, chocking or having a seizure.

Staff are also trained to help children who have suffered anaphylactic shocks, convulsions, burns and scalds or fractures.