The boss of a nursery where two members of staff admitted assaulting children has said it wants to “heal and move forward” with families who use it.

Lucy Jordan, managing director of Playdor Nursery School in Burnley, said she was “heartbroken” about the incident and has set out what action has been taken following the incidents.

Appearing at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, Alishba Chaudhry, 19, of Dover Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting the same child on February 7 and 9.

Jamair Hussain Nilam, 23, of Heath Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to four charges of assault involving three children on February 7 and 8.

They will both be sentenced in September.

A third person, Mehwish Batool Kauser Khan, 22, of Redvers Street, Nelson, pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault on February 7.

Khan, who was on a student placement at the nursery at the time of the alleged incident, was remanded on bail for a trial, due to take place in August 2025.

The court heard the assaults – by the women who worked in the same room – were caught on CCTV and seen by a manager who checked the footage.

A statement from Playdor Nursery School, based in Bank Parade, said: “Playdor Nursery School acknowledges the recent court hearing in which two former members of staff pleaded guilty to charges of assault on children in their care.

“We deeply regret this incident and extend our sincerest apologies to the affected children and their families.

“Upon discovering the allegations, Playdor Nursery School Burnley acted urgently and appropriately to ensure the safety and well-being of all children.

“We immediately suspended the individuals involved, contacted the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), Ofsted and the police and launched a thorough internal investigation.

“Very shortly after this, the employees were dismissed for gross misconduct.

“Their behaviour was shocking and goes against everything we promote and stand for at Playdor Nursery.”

Ms Jordan, the managing director, added: "We are heartbroken and deeply saddened by the actions of these individuals, which go against everything we stand for.

“Our first concern is always the safety and well-being of the children entrusted to our care.

“We are grateful for the support from LADO, Ofsted, and the police in addressing this matter swiftly and justly.

“We remain committed to the highest standards of care and will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and happiness of every child at Playdor Nursery School.

“We understand the gravity of this situation and the impact it has had on our community and our Playdor Family.

“We are dedicated to healing and moving forward together to ensure that Playdor Nursery School remains a place where children can learn and grow in a safe and supportive environment.”

Steps taken by the nursery included working with authorities as part of the investigation, and “fully cooperating to ensure justice was served and incidents do not recur”.

Playdor has worked with and continues to support the families affected, and supported the rest of the staff at the nursery to maintain their reputation and their “dedication, professionalism, exceptional care, love and education to our children”.

The nursery has also reviewed its procedures, in particular around safeguarding, with additional training brought in for staff.

Chaudhry and Nilam will be sentenced on September 4, while Khan is due to stand trial on August 14, 2025.