A nursery in Eastwood had its registration suspended by Ofsted after a report found children at 'significant and immediate risk' due to 'catastrophic failings' in leadership. The Wollaton Village Day Nursery, in Church Street in Eastwood, has been rated 'inadequate' after an inspection which was carried out on March 1.
Issues identified included staff being instructed to restrain children with emerging special educational needs and cleaning products being stored within easy reach of children. Ofsted also said unauthorised people could access the nursery through an open gate in the garden, whilst inspectors also found "unhygienic toilet facilities" including potties being stained with dry urine.
In its report, Ofsted says the registration of the nursery provider was suspended during the March 1 inspection. Ofsted says it suspends a provider's registration for a set period of six weeks, and during that time, it monitors a facility to make sure no services are being provided there that would need to be registered.
Ofsted says it ends the suspension as soon as it believes children are no longer at risk of harm. It's been confirmed that the nursery has now been reopened.
Karen Oliver, director of Wollaton Village Day Nursery, said: "Following a surprise visit from Ofsted, a number of concerns were raised which have now been put right to their satisfaction. Our nursery in Eastwood has now reopened and continues to provide the excellent service that children and their families are used to."
In its inspection report, published on April 4, Ofsted says: "The provider has failed to give the new manager and staff a thorough induction. This means that they do not know how to fulfil their role or have a clear understanding of how to keep children safe.
"They cannot access vital information about children's care needs because they do not know how to operate the online database where this is stored. Existing staff have not received appropriate and effective performance management. Therefore, weaknesses in staff's practice and a decline in staff well-being have gone unnoticed."
The inspection report also said fire safety requirements were not being met and that the outside play environment was not safe or inviting for children, with litter and garden waste not being removed. The report added children were put at risk of a medical emergency due to staff confusion about dietary requirements and some staff did not know how to administer children's medicine.
The nursery's last full inspection in 2019 saw it receive a rating of 'Good' from Ofsted. But since then, Ofsted has carried out four regulatory visits after receiving complaints.
In its latest full inspection report, Ofsted says: "Catastrophic failings in the leadership and management of this setting have resulted in a multitude of breaches in statutory requirements. No improvement has been made since Ofsted's recent regulatory involvement.
"A robust recruitment procedure has not been followed. The provider has not confirmed the suitability of the newly appointed manager and staff, of which there are many."
Nottinghamshire Live reported in March that the nursery in Eastwood had temporarily closed - but at that time it was unclear why.
It comes after a nursery in Wollaton managed by the same provider also received an 'inadequate' rating following an Ofsted inspection on March 1. That inspection found problems including broken toys, deflated balloons and pieces of hose pipe lying around the play area - presenting a risk to youngsters. The provider's nursery in Chapel Street, Bramcote Village, was also rated 'inadequate' after a March inspection.
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