Two-year-old dies from choking

Sadie Salt choked on a sausage served at Mini Learners nursery in Radlett, Hertfordshire, on November 12, 2020. She was rushed to hospital but died two days later in intensive care.

Nursery faces formal charges

Hertsmere Borough Council authorised health and safety charges against Mini Learners on Tuesday following a years-long investigation into Sadie's death.

Family seeks answers after six years

Sadie's parents, Zoe and Adam Salt, have endured nearly six years of grief and hope the legal process will finally reveal what happened to their daughter at the nursery.

“Nothing can make up for the devastating loss of our daughter, and the impact of her death remains with us in every aspect of our lives.”

Legal team supports family

Jill Paterson from law firm Leigh Day, representing the family, called the charges an important milestone and pledged continued support through the legal proceedings.

Inquest delayed pending trial

An inquest into Sadie's death, opened in January 2022, has been deferred until the criminal proceedings conclude to allow the legal process to run its course.

Family raises supervision concerns

At a pre-inquest review in 2022, the Salt family questioned the level of supervision at the nursery and raised concerns about the timing of the emergency call and rescue attempt.

Staff training questioned

The family requested to see First Aid certificates and evidence of training courses and childcare qualifications from nursery staff to understand their preparedness.

Multiple agencies to provide evidence

Evidence is expected from Ofsted, the Department of Education, police, doctors, and the local council during the legal proceedings.

Nursery expressed devastation

A Mini Learners spokesperson said at the time of Sadie's death: 'We are absolutely devastated by this news and our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to the family.'

“We are absolutely devastated by this news and our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to the family.”

Family raises 75,000 pounds for hospital

The Salt family has raised more than 75,000 pounds for COSMIC, a charity supporting the Children's Intensive Care Unit at St Mary's Hospital in London where Sadie died.

Petition to ban risky foods

The family launched an online petition to ban nurseries from serving sausages and grapes to children under five, which gained 12,000 signatures.

Choking hazard awareness grows

The case has highlighted concerns about choking risks for young children, with sausages and grapes identified as particularly dangerous foods for toddlers.

Supervision standards questioned

The incident raises questions about whether nurseries have adequate staff-to-child ratios and proper training to respond quickly to choking emergencies.

Emergency response timeline matters

The family's concerns about when the 999 call was made and how staff attempted rescue suggest response time may have been critical to Sadie's survival.

Charges bring legal accountability

The formal prosecution marks a significant step toward holding the nursery legally responsible and potentially establishing standards for childcare safety.

Long wait for justice ends

Nearly six years after Sadie's death, the charges represent the beginning of a legal process that may finally provide her family with answers and accountability.