Streetly nursery told by Ofsted inspectors of 'safety' risk to children
Children's safety was 'significantly compromised' by staff at a Walsall nursery, an Ofsted report has claimed.
Staff at the Little Explorers Day Nursery, in Foley Road East, Streetly, did not follow safety procedures on day outings, didn't properly provide first-aid treatment after accidents and left a child on its own in a room for several minutes.
Inspectors gave the nursery, which has 59 children on its roll, an 'inadequate' rating.
A report put together after an inspection on March 14 reads: "Children's welfare is significantly compromised because of poor safety practice.
In addition, on the day of the inspection, a child had an accident and staff did not follow the nursery's procedure for dealing with accidents.
"For example, staff did not check the child diligently, provide first aid-treatment or record the accident.
"This significantly compromises children's welfare and health. Arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.
"On the day of the inspection, a child was left in a room and was not in sight or hearing of staff for several minutes.
"This significantly compromises children's welfare and safety. In addition, staff did not follow the nursery's own safety procedures for taking children on an outing.
"Arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.
Read the inspection report here
The nursery was rated inadequate in two out of four areas, effectiveness of leadership and personal development, behaviour and welfare.
Inspectors rated it as 'requires improvement' in terms of quality of teaching and outcomes for children.
Little Explorers Day Nursery was registered in 2015 and currently employs 12 members of childcare staff.
The nursery provides funded early education for two to four-year-old children.
Nursery manager Karen McWhinnie said: "We accept that there are elements we need to improve upon and we have proactively started implementing a comprehensive improvement plan.
However, we are in the process of appealing the decision by Ofsted as we do not believe the report is an accurate reflection of the provision we provide.
"We particularly dispute the report in the sense that it seems to indicate that children are not safe at the nursery."
Jane Bonner, head of service for education standards and improvement with Walsall Council, said local authority officers had met with the setting manager to put a joint support plan in place.
