A toddler was left behind in the woods by nursery school staff after they took a group of children on a walk , it emerged today . Fordfield House Nursery has apologised unreservedly after the shocking failing in care was revealed in an Ofsted report . The youngster was only returned to the nursery - which caters for children under the age of five - after being found by someone from a nearby riding stables . Failing in care : A toddler was left behind in the woods by Fordfield House Nursery during a class outing . After the incident last December staff at the nursery in Ampthill , Bedfordshire , notified the inspector that a 'serious incident ' had occurred . It is believed the child , whose age and gender is unknown , was left behind in woodland at the end of the trip to the woods . The nursery has stopped all outings until new policies are brought in - including giving staff new mobile phones . Ofsted would not confirm how the child came to be left behind but their report states they issued 'compliance action ' . This included a 'notice to improve ' which asked the nursery to 'ensure children are kept safe on outings ' . A welfare requirements notice was also serves which states the nursery must 'ensure staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children and ensure their safety ' . New measures : The nursery , pictured , has stopped all outings until new policies are brought in - including giving staff new mobile phones . It also states that they must 'ensure that children are adequately supervised and decide how to deploy staff to ensure children 's needs are met ' . It also asked them to 'identify the steps to be taken to remove , minimise and manage [ ... ] risks and hazards ' . Ofsted said it had also carried out a further inspection into the nursery and a report would be published 'in due course ' . The report , which was published last month , said : 'The owner took immediate action following the incident . 'All outings have been stopped until relevant policies and procedures have been amended and fully implemented within the nursery . 'New mobile phones that will be used on outings have been purchased . We are satisfied with the action taken by the provider . The provider remains registered with Ofsted . ' The nursery was in fact rated outstanding by Ofsted after an inspection last July and its director , Carole Cross , said parents had been 'kept fully informed ' . She said : 'We made our parents and Ofsted fully aware at that time and they rigorously inspected the nursery and investigated . 'We complied and worked with the inspection team immediately and , as a result , we have put improved and effective changes in place to make our nursery even better than it was . 'We have apologised unreservedly to our parents . ' A nursery spokesman said : 'The incident was last year and it has been fully investigated by Ofsted . ' A mother who has three children at the nursery said : ' I believe that the incident should not define what is a wonderful establishment . 'The nursery responded in the appropriate way and rather than dwell , they have put measures in place to stop any such incident - a direct result of human error - from happening again . ' I only hope that this does not mean an end to the wonderful walks in the woods that my children have enjoyed with nursery over the last eight years . '
Toddler left in the woods by staff at Fordfield House Nursery , Bedfordshire . Youngster only returned after being found by someone from nearby stables . The shocking failing emerged in Ofsted report and staff have apologised . Nursery has stopped all outings until new safety policies are introduced .