Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Nursery handed inadequate rating
Nursery staff have been told by Ofsted they need to better understand the signs of extremist views and radicalisation. Inspectors made the recommendation as they gave Under 1 Roof Nursery Canterbury in Chartham a rating of inadequate - the worst score possible. In a damning report published this week, watchdog officials say youngsters’ safety “continues to be compromised” at the site which received the same rating when it was last visited in July. Ofsted is expected to take enforcement action against the provider, having told it to make arrangements “to improve the quality of education and care for all children”. “Leaders and staff do not have a secure and embedded understanding of safeguarding issues,” the inspectors write. “For example, they are not confident in recognising the signs and symptoms concerned with female genital mutilation, extremist views and radicalisation.”
Inspectors also say “weaknesses in the quality of provision” at the nursery - which operates out of the Big Fun
House site in Ashford Road remain since their last visit. Some children are said to “lack motivation towards their learning and struggle to involve themselves in play”.
“The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action,” the inspectors add.
“Leaders’ monitoring of practice does not consider the quality of education children receive. They have not identified weaknesses in teaching and interactions with children. “Consequently, staff do not receive the required support and professional development opportunities to improve this. “This means the quality of care and education that children receive continues to be inadequate.”
The report does, however, acknowledge “parents speak warmly about the staff team” and that those working for the nursery “provide some successful activities for children to engage with”.
It also notes that youngsters “enjoy healthy and nutritious foods at snack and mealtimes”. In a letter sent to parents following the publication of the report, nursery bosses stress staff have now received more safeguarding training. They insist the concerns raised in the wake of the inspection which took place on January 5 - do not centre on the “level of care or safeguarding that your children receive from us”. “Our most recent Ofsted report unfortunately leaves us with another inadequate, which we are obviously extremely disappointed with,” the letter reads. “The nature of the safeguarding concern lies with lack of knowledge of safeguarding reporting procedures and not with the level of care or safeguarding that your children receive from us in the setting. “An additional return visit from Ofsted last week confirmed that staff had improved their
‘The quality of care and education that children receive continues to be inadequate...’
understanding of both policies and procedures. “Unfortunately, this does mean that we have lost our government funding, which is a huge blow to us.”
In a bid to support pupils currently receiving funding by Kent County Council, the nursery has offered to cover their fees for the next term.
“We will take on this cost to ensure that the children are not uprooted,” the letter adds. “We feel strongly the children will benefit from the immediate changes that are happening within the setting.”
An Ofsted spokesman has confirmed officials returned for a regulatory visit and found “some of the safeguarding concerns raised” had been addressed. However, the inadequate judgement will stand until a full reinspection takes place in the next six months.