Kentish Express Ashford & District
Nursery marked down after overdose incident
Inspectors fear children at risk over medication controls
An Ashford nursery has been downgraded to inadequate after staff overdosed a toddler on prescription medication.
Ofsted inspectors visited Jelly Beans Day Nursery, in Kingsnorth, on Thursday, July 28, and found concerns in every area.
The early years provision in Field View dropped two places in the Ofsted ranking, having previously been rated good.
Inspectors reported that children’s welfare was at risk because management does not check medication procedures or dosage.
The report states: “Recently, a child was given three times the dosage of a prescribed medicine contrary to guidance provided by parents and recorded by a member of staff.
“This error was not investigated effectively by management and the procedure for administering medication has not changed. T his leaves children at risk.
“Insufficient action has been taken in response to recommendations given at the last inspection and the quality of provision has significantly declined.”
The nursery, which is owned and run by Ranc Care, has 96 children on its roll, but inspectors found their individual needs are not met.
Staff were criticised for failing to implement adequate hygiene routines and not offering children water other than at snack and meal times.
Children were also found to be progressing with their learning slowly.
The report states: “They do not gain the skills they need to support their future learning. Their communication and language development is particularly weak.
“Any learning that takes place cannot be attributed to the teaching or planned activities.”