A nursery that was forced to close down after a watchdog found it had put children ‘at serious risk of harm’ has been told it can reopen. Ladybirds Nursery, in Reddish, Stockport was rated ‘inadequate’ when Ofsted officials visited in November - and served with a legal notice requiring it to take a series of actions before the end of the month.
Inspectors found unchecked staff were undertaking nappy changing and toileting procedures with children - placing them at ‘serious risk of harm’. Broken bricks and damaged fence posts also posed risks to their safety. A new report reads: “Leaders have failed to check that all staff are suitable to work with children. There is no induction system in place or process to verify their ongoing suitability. This places children at risk of harm.”
Officials also noted there was no qualified deputy manager at the centre, which provides day care to 24 two and three-year-olds. “Policies, procedures and practice do not promote the health and welfare of children,” the report continues.
READ MORE : Nursery 'stunned and disappointed' after being rated 'inadequate' in all areas by education watchdog
“Staff who prepare food do not have any training to do this safely. This does not help to keep children safe from harm or illness.” The play group, based at Church Hall, St Mary's Drive, had its registration suspended and was ordered to shut so it could ‘take steps to reduce or eliminate the risk of harm to children’.
These included ensuring there was an appropriately qualified manager with a named deputy capable of taking over in their absence and training all staff to understand the nursery’s safeguarding policy and procedures. However, an unannounced visit in December found it had remained closed and taken all of the actions required by the legal notice.
The report notes that safeguarding training had been updated so that both management and staff had ‘up to date knowledge’ in this area. “The provider has completed training to strengthen her understanding of safe recruitment," it adds.
"As such, all staff now hold an enhanced DBS check, references are in place, proof of qualifications are on record, and sufficient staff hold a paediatric first aid qualification." Those involved in the preparation of food had also completed the relevant training, while induction procedures had been strengthened to ensure staff were clear on their roles and responsibilities from ‘day one’.
Arrangements were said to be in place for the recruitment of an appropriately qualified and experienced manager - with the provider taking on the role of deputy. The report adds: “Finally, procedures for risk assessing the environment have been overhauled. All staff are now clear on their responsibilities to check all areas of the nursery environment to ensure children are not placed at risk.”
Following the visit on December 1, Ofsted lifted the suspension of registration ‘as the matters of risk that gave rise’ to it ‘no longer applied’. Ladybirds Nursery declined to comment.
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