BBC nurseries inquiry criticised

A BBC programme has been criticised for causing the unjustified suspension of a member of staff from a private nursery in Greater Manchester.

Bury Council claimed the Real Story programme's UK nurseries investigation, which looks at Bank House Day nursery wasted police and social workers' time.

A reporter posed as a nurse at the Radcliffe nursery, which the police said they are not concerned about.

But producers said the nursery breached Ofsted guidelines in vetting staff.

The BBC is satisfied that matters of public concern are raised in this programme BBC Real Story statement

The council said the investigation caused "a lot of anxiety about nothing" and want a meeting with the programme's producers.

The authority confirmed a member of staff was suspended while her conduct at the nursery was investigated, but has since been re-instated.

Officials say parents of children have been upset by the investigation.

Greater Manchester Police has viewed some of the footage of the programme, which will be broadcast on Thursday, with the co-operation of the production team.

A spokeswoman said: "[The footage] was viewed along with the council and Ofsted and there's no concerns about any criminal activity or child abuse going on."

However in a statement, Real Story said there were "clear breaches of Ofsted guidelines" in the programme.

"The production team at no stage made allegations that there were child protection issues at the nursery," it said.

"The police asked to view footage filmed in the nursery in the course of an investigation.

"The BBC is satisfied that matters of public concern are raised in this programme."

Nurseries Undercover: The Real Story will be broadcast on BBC One at 2100 BST on Thursday.