A nursery in England has been fined and a former staff member jailed following the death of a toddler who was restrained during nap time. The sentencing took place at Nottingham Crown Court on April 18, 2026.
The court heard that 16-month-old Noah Czerny died in May 2022 at the Jack and Jill Childcare nursery in Leicester. A staff member, Kate Roughley, was found to have placed him face down on a bean bag and tightly wrapped him in a blanket for over 90 minutes, ignoring his distress. She was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The nursery's operating company, Jack and Jill Childcare Ltd, was fined £800,000 after pleading guilty to corporate manslaughter. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mr. Justice Cotter addressed Noah's family, stating, "May I take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to Noah’s family for their loss. Your loss is unimaginable."
The case has prompted a review of safeguarding practices in early years settings. The nursery has since closed permanently.
