Preschool cleared of wrongdoing after kids break-out

The pair left the Cubby House's playground on July 24 by unlatching the bolts of a gate into the car park.

Officials have cleared a childhood centre of wrongdoing after two pre-schoolers unbolted a gate and wandered across a busy road.

The Ministry of Education investigated how the children managed to unlatch bolts at the centre in Palmerston North last month and cross the busy Pioneer Highway, one of the city's main southern gateways.

Ministry head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said the gate through which the pre-schoolers escaped had three security latches, standard in most early childhood centres.

"Two children working together were able to open the gate, which is an unusual occurrence. Our investigation found there was no breach of regulation at the time of the incident," she said.

"Our investigation has now concluded and The Cubbyhouse has acted on all the recommendations provided by our staff. Physical changes gave been made to the centre, including upgrading the locking mechanisms on all gates.

"The New Zealand Fire Service has approved the outdoor environment gates being permanently locked as well as a new procedure for emergency evacuation."

Cubbyhouse owners Jane and Simon Pervan could not immediately be reached for comment today but told NZME News Service earlier this month they'd installed improved and more secure gates to the centre's entrances.

Previously, they were told five fire exit gates had to be unlocked.

"Now they are saying that because we can access our area of safety - we can get outside the building to an area of safety - [the Fire Service] are advising that we can now use padlocks".

The centre had no previous escapes and no children had withdrawn because of this incident.