A two-week inquest into the death of baby boy who choked on food at his nursery will be heard by a jury, with staff at the pre-school, including two chefs, giving evidence.

Nine-month-old Oliver Steeper was being looked after at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Kingsnorth, Ashford, when he became unable to breathe while eating. He died six days later at Evelina London Children's Hospital in September 2021.

In August, a pre-inquest review heard that the baby’s parents, Lewis and Zoe Steeper, feared there may have been “missed opportunities” to save his life, and that the forthcoming hearings will focus on the day of the choking incident.

Today, during a second pre-inquest review held at County Hall, Maidstone, coroner Katrina said that 15-17 witnesses will give evidence over the two-week hearing, set for May 2024 at Oakwood House, Maidstone.

Afterwards, Mr and Mrs Steeper said they welcomed the length of the hearing, adding: “It feels like no stone’s going to be left unturned.”

As well as the Jelly Beans staff, Mr and Mrs Steeper will give evidence, as will another parent of a child at the nursery, the doctor who carried out Oliver’s bronchoscopy and a representative from education watchdog, Ofsted.

Ms Hepburn previously said the inquest will cover the background of Oliver’s “developmental stage, particularly regarding his feeding, to understand what on that day he could eat”. It will also probe staff training, as well as the preparation of food, “specifically determining who was responsible for deciding what child eats what”.

The court is waiting for body cam footage from police officers who attended the scene after paramedics left, the staff rota at the nursery and the resuscitation procedure advice that was provided to Jelly Beans.

Ofsted is also preparing an overview report on the events.

Ms Hepburn said another pre-inquest review will take place in April, for legal representatives to ensure everything is prepared.

Mr and Mrs Steeper had called for a jury inquest, and explaining her decision, Ms Hepburn said: "This does require a jury because the death was notifiable"

Similar to juries in crown courts, jurors listen to the evidence presented and decide the conclusion.

During the August pre-inquest review, Craig Hassall KC, representing the Steepers, said: “The understanding that the parents had was that there would be a meeting between themselves and the chef to discuss what stage Oliver was at with his feeding prior to him starting at Jelly Beans. That meeting never happened.

“It’s not entirely clear whose responsibility it was to deal with the consistency of the food. It seems to be that the same basic meal was prepared for all of the children and then it would be for the individual nursery staff to then cut up or process or puree, or whatever it may be, that meal for the specific child they were responsible for feeding that day.

“That may be the case, but it’s not clear.

“Although members of staff were trained in first aid, the first aid that was offered was certainly not textbook.

“And the concern is whether there were missed opportunities to save Oliver’s life – or if some of what was done may have been counter-productive.”

Speaking after today’s hearing, Mr Steeper said:“We are pleased that the coroner has decided to go with a jury. Everything we wanted to be put in place has been put in place.

“And we’ve just got to go with the time scale that the coroner has set out and we can’t wait to be done with it and get a resolution into Oliver’s death.”

“From such a negative thing of losing a child, this is a positive experience in gaining the answers as to why Oliver died. And hopefully get some accountability.”

Mrs Steeper added: “It’s good to get a date in place so we’ve got something to aim for now and we’re really glad that things are being thoroughly looked in it. It feels like no stone’s going to be left unturned.”

‘It feels like no stone’s going to be left unturned...’

Earlier this year, the couple celebrated the birth of their second child, son Jake Oliver Steeper.

Speaking about their sons, Mr Steeper said: “Initially when Oliver died it was hole in the house that we couldn’t fill. Now we’ve had Jake and he’s nine-months-old so he’s kind of filled that gap but Jake’s a spitting image of Oliver so it’s a constant reminder every day of Oliver not being there but we’re grateful that we’ve got Jake to continue our family.”

Following Oliver’s death, Ofsted closed Jelly Beans, in Field View, on a temporary basis pending a full investigation into “serious safeguarding concerns” in the lead-up to the incident.

However, parents and carers were later informed the owner of the nursery had voluntarily shut the facility down.

At the inquest opening last year, Oliver’s cause of death was given as a brain injury and cardio-respiratory arrest following "aspiration of foodstuffs during a choking episode".

In February this year, a police investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy was closed.

A force spokesman said: "Following a thorough investigation, no further action is to be taken and the investigation has been filed pending further information coming to light."

Mr and Mrs Steeper, who are from Ashford, said at the time that they are "hugely disappointed and shocked" by the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to pursue charges.

They have become active campaigners for robust safety regulations in childcare settings following their son's death, with a petition against looser nursery rules being debated in Parliament.