A family has received a five-figure payout after their 10-month-old son was burned by a bucket of boiled water containing bleach at a nursery in Aberdeen.
Blake Nilssen, who is now two years old, was seriously injured at Little Dreams Nursery in Aberdeen in November 2021.
Lawyers for the family said the out-of-court settlement would be held in a trust for Blake until he was 16.
The kindergarten said it took the incident “extremely seriously”.
Over the past year, it had emerged that staff had neglected to call an ambulance. Blake was taken to hospital after his parents were alerted.
The nursing inspection confirmed a complaint against the kindergarten, which introduced new training.
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At the time of the incident, Blake was placed in cold water and staff then placed wet paper towels on the affected areas of his body, but a blister was said to have come off with the paper towel.
The nursing inspector said the kindergarten staff should not have covered their burns with wet paper towels, and that cling film should have been placed on the wounds, not wrapped around them.
Ellie Johnson, Blake’s mother, said: “At the time I said that this incident was unjustifiable, I still feel that way.
“You really felt it shocked parents across the country. Many people have expressed concern and support.
“Fortunately, Blake has responded well to medical treatment but his recovery is ongoing. We’re still seeing some signs of emotional trauma, particularly around water, but we’re hoping that over time he will calm down and things can improve for him.”
She explained: “It was never about the money, which is why we have taken steps to fund compensation for our son when he is older.
“It took legal action to get the answers we deserved and get Little Dreams to put their hands up.
“Right now, as a family, we just want to try to put this painful episode behind us and move forward.”
Neil Davidson of Digby Brown Solicitors in Aberdeen led the lawsuit.
“No parent should have to worry about the welfare of their child when they are leaving them in the care of professionals,” he said.
“I sincerely hope that parents and carers everywhere will consider the gravity of what has happened in this very harrowing ordeal and take steps to ensure such incidents never happen again.”
The nursery told BBC Scotland: “This was an incident which we took very seriously.
“As an investigation by local authorities into what happened is ongoing we are unable to comment further but we of course give this investigation every support and support.”
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