Nursery worker brands refurbishment 'shoddy' after child injured and squatters move into basement

A nursery worker has criticised the refurbishment of a north London childcare centre as "shoddy" after a three-year-old girl was injured by a falling fixture and squatters allegedly occupied part of the building.The employee, who asked not to be named, said staff at Granville Plus Nursery School in South Kilburn have been dealing with a growing list of problems since moving back into the refurbished building in March 2025.The nursery was renovated as part of the wider redevelopment of the Granville and Carlton Community Centres.The staff member said the building appeared impressive on the surface but quickly developed multiple faults after reopening."It looks all nice and shiny on the surface, but as soon as you start trying to use the building, it was clear there were lots and lots of problems," they said.Among the most serious incidents was an accident involving a young girl.The employee claimed part of a wooden door frame - a large fibreboard pelmet above a sliding door - became detached and struck a three-year-old child on the head.The ‘plant room’ in Granville Plus Nursery School was reportedly taken over by squattersLDRSThe child was taken to hospital for treatment, according to the staff member, who said the incident was reported to those responsible for the refurbishment.They alleged that the nursery received no apology and that suggestions were made that children had somehow been responsible for dislodging the fitting.Separately, staff raised concerns after squatters allegedly gained access to a plant room in the basement earlier this year.The employee claimed some of those staying there were using and dealing drugs, leading to concerns from both staff and parents."People were living in there; there was a drug dealing operation out of the basement," they alleged.Read More"It could be dangerous. We have had enormous hassle trying to get this sorted out."The worker said Brent Council eventually removed the squatters and linked them with support services, but claimed it only happened after police became involved.They also alleged that waste, including human faeces, remained in the area for months afterwards due to delays arranging specialist cleaning.Further complaints centred on part of the nursery playground, which has been handed over to contractors working on nearby housing development works.According to staff, when the remaining section of playground was returned for use, it was covered in small stones that posed a potential hazard for young children and had to be cleared before it could be used safely.Responding to the allegations, a Brent Council spokesperson said: "We appreciate the patience of staff and families at Granville Plus Nursery while construction work has continued on site, and we have worked closely with the nursery to address concerns as they have arisen on what is a particularly complex site."The safety and wellbeing of children and staff remains our top priority."We will continue working with the nursery and developers on site to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and welcoming environment."The council said it would continue to work with nursery staff and contractors to address outstanding concerns.