Kentish Express Ashford & District
Ofsted report finds safety ‘compromised’ at nursery
Nursery bosses have vowed to improve standards after being rated as inadequate by Ofsted.
Inspector Maxine Ansell visited the Jelly Beans Pre-School Day Nursery in Park Farm, Ashford, at the beginning of June and found serious shortcomings.
Her report found children’s safety was “compromised” as staff did not understand key procedures to follow in the event of safeguarding concerns being raised about other staff members.
The r eport al s o s t ated: “Teaching is weak. Staff do not plan challenging, motivating experiences and activities to meet individual children’s learning needs. This means that children become disinterested.
“The provider has failed to make sure staffing arrangements are organised so that children are supervised appropriately to ensure their safety.”
The report also found that staff did not do enough to understand their “key role” in helping children settle in and support them, and fail to make sure children improve their language and communication skills.
Inspectors did recognise that the nursery is strong at sharing information with parents about children’s learning and care.
Ms Ansell has set out a fourpoint plan, stating staff must improve their knowledge of safeguarding procedures, and make sure there are enough staff on duty to supervise children properly, that care is tailored to each child’s individual needs, and there is enough training, support and supervision.
They will also have to improve the quality of teaching to provide interesting and challenging activities, boost children’s communication and language skills and help them improve their mathematical skills.
Jelly Beans was previously rated as requiring improvement by Ofsted in its previous inspection in January this year, but the report notes that care provider Ranc Care has failed to make improvements.
The nursery provides a baby room, a toddler room, a preschool room and a specialist sensory room and garden.
In response, Ranc Care regional operations manager Claire Latreille says improvements will have to be made.
In a statement she said: “We acknowledge the Ofsted report as very disappointing. We want to assure both our customers and the community that we are working actively to improve outcomes as quickly as possible.
“Jelly Beans is a popular and warmly supported nursery. We want to ensure it has a healthy and successful future.”