The devastated parents of a baby who died after choking at nursery have paid tribute to the ‘best baby’, after welcoming their second son last month.
Zoe and Lewis Steeper’s nine-month-old baby Oliver died six days after he choked at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, in September 2021.
Swimming teacher Zoe, 32, and surveyor Lewis, 37, had a second son, called Jake Oliver Steeper, last month.
Mr Steeper said recently that the couple were so happy to have been given a second chance at parenthood.
‘Oliver was our first, and honestly the best baby you could ever have wished for…he was just perfect,’ he said.
‘It’s a strange feeling, knowing the new baby will probably look and sound the same as Oli.
‘We are just happy we have been given another chance,’ said Lewis.
The couple say they are determined to appeal a decision by the CPS not to bring criminal charges, while Kent Police have also shelved their investigation.
The Streepers have also since been campaigning against government suggestions to decrease the ratio of nursery carers to children to make childcare cheaper, with a petition gathering more than 100,000 signatures.
Speaking of their bid to prevent changes that would see nursery staff looking after more kids, Lewis added: ‘After losing Oliver in an early years setting, we feel it’s our duty now to protect other children from people who are trying to overhaul the sector.
The couple were told that the CPS has decided not to bring charges and Kent Police have also shelved their investigation.
His parents announced the decision on the Oliver Steeper Foundation website yesterday but have vowed to fight to overturn the decision.
The statement said: ‘Whilst the initial investigation concluded that the nursery’s policies and procedures were ‘of poor quality and inconsistent’ no accountability for our son’s tragic and avoidable death will prevail at this moment in time.
‘We are hugely disappointed and shocked at the initial decision, but we are far from deterred.
‘We have now instructed specialist solicitors Leigh Day, who have lodged our appeal with the Crown Prosecution Service.
‘We will leave no stone unturned as we feel that many key aspects of what happened on that day have been missed or ignored by the CPS.’
Following Oliver’s death, the nursery permanently closed following the tragedy.
The closure came after childcare inspectors Ofsted suspended its registration.
The Steepers added that they were also disappointed with Ofsted’s handling of the case.
Little Oliver was given food at the nursery on September 23, 2021, and began to struggle to breathe.
He died six days later of a heart attack at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Heartbreaking pictures show him in his hospital bed surrounded by tubes.
The inquest into his death was opened in August, and gave his cause of death as a brain injury and heart attack, but was put on hold pending the outcome of investigations.
His parents have since been campaigning against government suggestions to decrease the ratio of nursery carers to children to make childcare cheaper, with a petition gathering more than 100,000 signatures.
‘These are members of parliament who will never put their own children into a local nursery because of their wealth and privileges; who simply don’t live in the real world the rest of us do and don’t bat an eyelid at the cost of childcare.’
A spokesman for Kent Police said: ‘Kent Police carried out enquiries into the circumstances of a death at a childcare facility in Ashford on Thursday 23 September 2021.
‘Following a thorough investigation, no further action is to be taken and the investigation has been filed pending further information coming to light.
‘A report will be prepared for the coroner.’
A spokesperson for the CPS said: ‘Kent Police referred a file of evidence to the CPS seeking a charging decision for two suspects in relation to Oliver Steeper’s death. After a careful review of all the evidence, we concluded that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for either suspect.’
‘Oliver’s death was a tragedy, and we understand how difficult it must have been for his family to hear our decision. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.
‘We have received a request from Oliver’s family under the Victim’s Right to Review Scheme. We will now conduct a further, full independent review of all the evidence. It would not be appropriate to comment further until the review has been completed.’