A young woman is accused of child cruelty and serious assaults against 12 children at a £1,900-a-month Montessori nursery.
Roksana Lecka, 21, is facing 25 charges of child cruelty, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm at Twickenham Green Montessori in southwest London.
She appeared at Wimbledon magistrates court last week, and was remanded in custody until a hearing at Kingston crown court next month.
Lecka faces 12 charges of child cruelty, 12 counts of actual bodily harm and one allegation of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
The nursery, which charges fees of up to £1,900 a month, follows the Montessori method of teaching involving allowing children to pursue their natural interests and activities.
It is part of the Riverside Nursery Schools group, and has been shut down in the wake of the criminal case against Lecka.
The allegations all relate to a single day, June 28, according to the charges laid at the magistrates court.
Detective Superintendent Ian Cameron, from the Met Police’s South West area's Public Protection team, told The Independent: “I understand the concern that this has caused in the community, especially for parents with young children in nursery.
“These are very serious allegations, which is why we swiftly launched a thorough investigation.”
Enquiries are said to be ongoing, together discussions with the nursery management, the local council, and Ofsted.
A spokesperson for Twickenham Green Nursery said Lecka was suspended as soon as they were made aware of the allegations.
“We have been communicating with the parents of children at our nursery to keep them informed of developments. The safety and welfare of all our children remains our number one priority”, they said.
Lecka has been remanded in custody until the next hearing at Kingston crown Court on August 21.
No pleas were entered at the first court hearing on Thursday last week.
