'Chaotic' nursery lands 'inadequate' rating in damning report - 'intensive support' pledged

Tick Tock Day Nursery in Old Hill, Cradley Heath, which has 65 children on its roll, was handed the damning rating after a visit by Ofsted in November last year.

In their report, which was published earlier this month, inspectors found that children were "not always" given adequate supervision to ensure their safety.

They noted that some parts of the day were "chaotic", in particularly making reference to lunchtimes where some youngsters were left to sit without food because staff had "failed to retrieve their packed lunches".

Inspectors further found that staff did not manage the behaviour of children "appropriately" and that "outbursts" of negative behaviour go "unnoticed".

The report however acknowledged the Halesowen Road nursery was facing a "challenging time" and referenced "significant" staffing issues.

It added that workers are "under pressure" and spend their time directing agency staff or carrying out routine tasks.

However, nursery-goers were described as having "warm and caring relationships" with staff and that they are "generally happy" and make friendships.

Parents said their children enjoy attending Tick Tock nursery and that they are "satisfied" with the care provided.

The nursery was rated inadequate across each of the inspection areas including quality of education, leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes and personal development.

As a result, the provider was issued a welfare requirements notice by Ofsted which asked them to meet a number of conditions by December 14 last year.

Inspectors also ordered nursery bosses to meet a number of requirements of the early years foundation stage by January 31.

Despite this, upon a further visit by Ofsted to the nursery on December 18 last year, inspectors found that "some" of the required safeguarding and welfare actions had been met but not others.

They found that whilst children were now "adequately" supervised at all times, "not enough action" had been taken to help staff use "consistent strategies" with youngsters to assist with good behaviour.

Staff supervision was described as "not effective" in improving teaching quality and experiences for nursery-goers.

In light of the report, Sandwell Council issued a letter to parents on March 21 to make them aware of its inadequate rating and pledged to give the nursery "intensive support".

The letter read: "Sandwell Quality Early Years and Childcare Team would like to reassure you that Tick Tock will be receiving intensive support, advice and guidance to ensure the issues identified by Ofsted are resolved as quickly as possible.

"Guidance from the government states that 'local authorities should secure alternative provision and withdraw funding, as soon as is practicable, for children who are already receiving their funded entitlement at a provider which is rated inadequate by Ofsted'. (Early education and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities, June 2018, A3.13).

"However, we recognise and respect that it is the choice of the parent or carer to decide which provision their child or children attend,

"Therefore, if you would like your child to continue to attend Tick Tock, we will continue to fund and support you in this decision.

"Alternatively, if you would like to discuss moving your child to another day-care setting or would like to discuss matters further, please contact us via email at earlyyears_team@sandwell.gov.uk with your full name and number and a representative from the team will call you to discuss your concerns."

The nursery, which was registered in 2003, previously had its registration suspended in June of last year after Ofsted received 'concerns of a safeguarding nature'.

The Express & Star contacted Tick Tock Day Nursery but staff declined to comment.