The Care Inspectorate is investigating the incident at the Partnership Nursery in Cowglen next to the M77.

The three-year-old girl escaped from the garden of the nursery after a gate was left open.

She is understood to have been alone for at least 20 minutes.

One senior member of staff at the nursery has been sacked over the incident, which happened last week at around 12.15pm, and another has resigned.

The nursery owner described the incident as "regrettable". It is understood nursery staff failed to count the children when they went back inside the building. All parents were sent letters about the incident.

The girl was found at a bus stop close to the motorway. She was discovered by a member of staff from the National Savings Bank which is housed in the same building as the nursery.

When she returned the child, which takes up to 77 children, staff did not know she was missing.

The nursery is privately run but offers 28 funded places on behalf of Glasgow City Council. The council said it would not be funding any more places after the end of this term.

Alan Grant, owner of the nursery, said all procedures had been reviewed but denied the child was alone for 30 minutes. It is understood the child is still being cared for at the nursery.

However sources claim it is the latest in a string of incidents at the nursery, which has another facility in Hillington and provides care for infants from the age of six weeks.

The Hillington nursery was ranked among the worst in Scotland last year in a report by the Care Commission.

In another incident a two-year-old child was badly burned during a cookery session in February, last year.

The infant was not supposed to be at the class. A senior member of staff was dismissed following the incident.

The owner would not comment on this incident or last year's report by the Care Commission. It costs around £600 a month for full-time care at the nursery.

A source said: "A member of staff who works in the bank found the child. When he took her to the nursery they didn't know she was missing."

A spokeswoman for the Care Inspectorate said: "The Care Inspectorate is aware of these issues involving Partnership Nursery and has followed these up using the actions required by the service."

Mr Grant added: "One member of staff has been dismissed. It was a regrettable incident.

"We have been co-operating fully with the Care Inspectorate. All procedures have been reviewed."

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "We will not be purchasing any places with Partnership Nurseries in Cowglen for the start of the new term."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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Pictures: Jamie Simpson