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Complaint

8 replies

Everdreamer1990 · 14/04/2021 06:56

Hi

So I'm looking at local nurseries for my 1 year old. She's currently with a childminder on a Friday but we want to change to a nursery as she's hardly been to the childminder since Xmas, (lockdown, Covid etc) & we feel that she'll benefit from more time with other children.

I've been to look at a few in my area & I have one more to see next week. I visited one yesterday which I quite liked. Ok, it was a bit 'old'. It needs modernization & a few repairs as the place is well used but I got a nice vibe from the manager, the kids seemed happy & financially it is a bit more affordable.

When I got home I checked their Ofsted reports & they've had two complaints in the last three years. One as soon as last year but it doesn't say what the complaints are in relation to? Is there a way to find this out through Ofsted as I don't feel comfortable asking the manager this?

I was pretty sure this was where I wanted to send my DD but now I have serious doubts.

Complaint
Complaint
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GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 14/04/2021 07:01

It does tell you about two thirds down what the requirements that they weren't meeting are - failure to ensure children don't leave the premises unattended etc

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trevthecat · 14/04/2021 07:17

I would imagine with that, that a child got out without supervision and they failed to notify Ofsted. Which probably means someone else saw and reported or a staff member wistleblew

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zaffa · 14/04/2021 07:53

Personally I would ask the nursery to explain. The nursery we picked for DD had a poor ofsted report a few years ago, with reference to a child being left in the playground while the inspector was present and there being a period of time the staff didn't know the child wasn't present.

The next report showed dramatic improvement and referenced a change of management. I already assumed this was the reason for the change, but I did subject the nursery to quite a lengthy 'interview' process (but only because my childminder decided on DD first day that she couldn't possibly have her as she wouldn't settle and I was so worried this would happen again I really quizzed the poor nursery on how they would settle her and what we could do to help - mid covid). Anyway the nursery were completely upfront, said it had been a different time and mistakes were absolutely made but the new management brought fresh perspective and the staff morale and atmosphere was completely different now. The proof so far has been in how well DD has settled.

Saying that, I don't know how I would react if the general gist had been children leaving the nursery grounds unsupervised or being able to get into the craft room (which presumably contains scissors etc) without supervision. That sounds a lot more dangerous to me.

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Everdreamer1990 · 14/04/2021 08:40

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

It does tell you about two thirds down what the requirements that they weren't meeting are - failure to ensure children don't leave the premises unattended etc

Yes, that one from 2018 but I can't see where it explains the more recent one.
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Everdreamer1990 · 14/04/2021 08:43

I'm aware of the 2018 complaint re a child unattended. They've had an inspection since then & things were definitely improved. It's the one from 2020 where I'm struggling to establish the issue.

All it says is the nursery failed to inform Ofsted of a significant event which seems vague.

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givemushypeasachance · 14/04/2021 12:06

Nurseries and childminders have to tell Ofsted about particular 'significant events', it's a legal requirement. If they don't inform Ofsted, and someone else later complains to Ofsted, or it comes to light in an inspection that Ofsted hadn't been told something, then the nursery would be formally told you breached the regulations - with that sort of action.

You can see the list of 'significant events' here www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-serious-childcare-incident. It ranges from a child having a serious injury, like falling off a slide and breaking their leg, to something like the nursery being flooded and having to close because it's not safe to operate. Or say a serious allegation is made against a member of staff, that they smacked a child. Ofsted should be told as well as the safeguarding policy being followed with the person suspended, the local authority investigating, etc. Even something like the nursery manager being arrested for drink driving - while not directly related to the nursery, that's the sort of thing that affects their suitability for their role, Ofsted should be informed. So it really could be anything.

You're not likely to be able to get more information from Ofsted about the particular circumstances, because they don't put individual details about children and staff in inspection reports. But the nursery know that report is up there, they should expect people to ask questions about it. And it's reasonable to expect they should be able to explain it to you, in a way that reassures you.

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insancerre · 14/04/2021 19:33

I do think the significant event must have been quite serious to trigger an actual visit during the pandemic
Most complaints would have been dealt with over the phone with only serious safeguarding complaints triggering a visit

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Tumbleweed101 · 18/04/2021 17:48

I'd ask for a meeting with the manager to explain what the situation is. They will be aware that this will be putting people off and should be willing to discuss what happened and what they have done about it.

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