A small Stanley knife was found on 27 June at the St Quintin Centre in North Kensington and was briefly passed between children before being handed to staff, prompting the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to commission an urgent safety review. The council says contractor Bellrock carried out a swift investigation and implemented recommendations, but parents and campaigners are seeking clearer detail about how the blade came to be on the premises and what changes have been made.
On 27 June a small Stanley knife was discovered on a wooden unit at the St Quintin Centre for Disabled Children and Young People in North Kensington after which, according to a report in the Evening Standard, one child picked up the blade, passed it to another and it was then handed to staff. No injuries were reported, but the incident has prompted an urgent safety review by the local authority after details only recently came to light. (Evening Standard)
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said it asked facilities-management contractor Bellrock to carry out an urgent investigation and that the probe was completed “swiftly”, leaving the council reassured that recommendations had been implemented following the June incident. Bellrock, which has acknowledged conducting an internal inquiry, is a longstanding contractor for public-sector clients in the capital. (Evening Standard; Bellrock statement)
The episode has focused attention on safeguarding in a setting that provides specialist services to children with complex needs. The St Quintin Centre operates seven days a week and offers a wide range of services from birth to 18 — including play schemes, after‑school and holiday clubs, a sensory toy library and short‑break provision — prioritising borough residents with the most complex needs. That profile makes the presence of any sharp instrument on the premises particularly sensitive for parents and professionals. (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea service information)
On the council’s website the centre is described as a state‑of‑the‑art facility providing support to disabled children, young people and families, with additional outreach and a satellite service at a local primary school. Access to many activities is routed through referrals and eligibility processes designed to prioritise those with greatest need, and some activities may carry charges. The centre is registered on the statutory Early Years and Childcare registers. (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea service information; access pages)
Regulatory records show St Quintin is a registered childcare provider and has a published inspection history on the Ofsted register, including a childcare inspection report from August 2024. Ofsted’s provider pages set out registration details and inspection outcomes and serve as an official public record for parents and professionals monitoring standards. (Ofsted provider record)
Bellrock’s public profile underlines why the council engaged an external contractor: the company lists operational offices in London and public‑sector clients in the borough and, in May 2024, highlighted that it had been awarded the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard for employment and community practices. The company’s portfolio includes supported internships and refurbishment projects in partnership with local services, a record the firm points to when describing its capability to respond to health and safety matters. Editorially, such claims should be treated as the company’s position pending independent verification. (Bellrock corporate information; Bellrock news)
Parents and campaigners are likely to press for clarity about how the knife came to be in a communal area and what steps have been taken to prevent recurrence. The council’s statement that it was reassured by Bellrock’s review will not necessarily satisfy all families, particularly given the centre’s role supporting children with high needs; transparency about the investigation’s findings and any changes to daily safeguarding routines will be essential to restore confidence. (Evening Standard; council statement)
For now the council says it is satisfied action has been taken and that the recommendations from the review have been implemented. Given the centre’s statutory registration and recent inspection history, local and national oversight mechanisms remain available to parents or professionals with continued concerns, and authorities would be expected to report any material regulatory follow‑up through the established Ofsted and borough channels. (Kensington and Chelsea Council statement; Ofsted records)
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The incident occurred on 27 June 2024, but the report was published on 9 August 2025, indicating a delay in reporting. The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of recycled content. The report includes updated data, such as the council’s statement and Bellrock’s response, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative has not appeared elsewhere in the past seven days.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from the council spokesperson and Bellrock’s statement are unique to this report, with no identical matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Standard, a reputable UK news outlet. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Bellrock are verifiable entities with public records and legitimate websites. This adds credibility to the report.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The incident of a Stanley knife being found in a nursery is plausible and concerning. The report includes specific details, such as the date, location, and responses from the council and Bellrock, which are consistent with standard reporting practices. The language and tone are appropriate for the region and topic. No excessive or off-topic details are present. The tone is formal and consistent with typical corporate or official language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is original, with no evidence of recycled content or disinformation. The quotes are unique, and the sources are reliable. The claims are plausible and supported by specific details. The language and tone are appropriate, with no inconsistencies or excessive details. Therefore, the overall assessment is a PASS with high confidence.
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