Marston Ferry nursery in Oxford - your experiences?

[heatwave2015]

Hi,
We're planning on sending our DS (now 10 months) to The Oxford Nursery in Summertown. We really liked the look of it when we went to visit, but have just been passed their recent ofsted report, which downgrades them from 'good' (in 2012) to 'inadequate' and lists a series of quite worrying-sounding failings, particularly regarding babies. I don't know how much faith to have in Ofsted, and it's so hard to judge until he actually starts there. He's our first, so we don't have previous nursery experience to judge from. It would really help to have the views of others who may have children at the nursery or have friends who do. Any thoughts please? Thank you so much!

[Hedges1978]

We went to view the nursery a few months ago on the recommendation of a friend whose daughter had previously attended for two years.

I recognise many of the criticisms set out in the Ofsted report and that one visit was enough to make me completely rule out the nursery for our daughter as I was pretty horrified by some aspects.

Having said that, the key is what the nursery will now do to address the issues. If you don't need a space immediately I'd suggest waiting a couple of months then visiting them to see for yourself, and question the staff as to how they're planning to change.

[Hedges1978]

I should add that we had the benefit of having sent our eldest daughter to an ofsted outstanding nursery for three years and there was a world of difference between the two.

[heatwave2015]

Thank you hedges1978! It's so useful to have your perpective. It does seem like they are implementing a lot of changes so maybe we can do as you say and visit again in a couple of months. What things did you specifically notice that were different from the outstanding nursery? Thank you!

[grumpalumpgrumped]

I am a nursery manager and that report is really bad, I have read a few inadequate reports where you can see it was bad luck really (I know that sound ludicrous but Ofsted can be a bit hit and miss). That report is awful though, I would not consider it unless they had a change of manager, he/she should have known those things were happening.

[heatwave2015]

Thanks that's helpful! I understand the manager has left but the previous deputy is now manager, so not sure how much will change. We'll see.