Nursery closed by Ofsted

[ChairoftheBored]

Sorry, not really and AIBU but posting for traffic.

We had an email late yesterday evening informing us that our child's nursery has been closed with immediate effect. I called the nursery straight away (the manager and owner were both there). They obviously couldn't give specific details but it seems a parent has complained about an injury to a child ( a slap Mark) and nursery is closed while it is investigated.

Does anyone have experience of this? How long might it be closed for? Is closure in these circumstances a standard approach? Is there a risk it might not re-open? DH and I both work so will need an alternative, but our child has loved it there since settling in and we've never had any concerns, but should we even be thinking about sending her back?

Sorry, lots and lots of questions!

Not had this experience, but I imagine the issue must be serious complaint.

No experience but it must be pretty serious to fully close. Otherwise they could just suspend the staff member in question. Perhaps they didn't investigate properly?
Are you in touch with any other parents?
Do they have cctv? I initially thought ours having cctv was a bit much but actually in the case of accidents it sorts out what happened very quickly.

That must be very worrying for you OP. I have a similar experience of our nursery having an incident where a parent alleged that a staff member had been cruel to a child. The nursery called in OFSTED themselves and sacked the member of staff on the spot. All parents were written to but the nursery wasn't closed. OFSTED investigated but were content with the way it had been dealt with by the nursery so that was that ( as far as I'm aware anyway). We never had any major issues with the nursery which my DS loved.

I guess if OFSTED have shut it it may be that the incident is particularly serious or they may be unhappy with how the nursery themselves have dealt with it (it was quite cut and dried in my situation). It may be that there are strict guidelines where there's an allegation of deliberate physical injury- the OFSTED website might help?

I hope it gets sorted out soon.

Maybe they don't know which Member of staff it (allegedly) was sonclosing jntil investigation is complete. Not that uncommon to close I'm afraid.

It must be an extremely serious allegation, and come on top of other failings.

Settings are not usually closed before an investigation, and only rarely afterwards (as it normally ends up with an improvement plan).

So no, I don't anyone can tell you how long it could all take, as this is not typical. But I think I'd start looking for an alternative place.

Had it actually closed by Ofsted? Or have they had to suspend a member of staff pending an investigation and aren't in ratio?

It happened near us almost word for word, ofsted then identified further safeguarding failings and rather than address then the manager closed the nursery before the report publication. He then opened elsewhere. There was a lot of sides taken on local reporting, and rather unfairly I though many wading in to say the child concerned was a biter/ naughty rather than querying the smack. Left a bit unresolved in the end.

If you can find a number why not call OFSTEAD and ask them about the specifics of the situation - they may not be able to tell you, so in that case ask more general questions to try to get an idea of what it could be and the timeframes involved.

I would imagine that the instances where a nursery is closed immediately suggest that there is a significant danger to the children and OFSTEAD consider it closing to be in their best interest.

I think, but not sure, they choose to close themselves to hinder. It transpired not all staff had crb checks and registers weren't taken.

DDs nursery was closed by Ofsted when a staff member was arrested on child pornography charges and it reopened in a month. You can phone Ofsted and see if they will tell you anything. But I imagine there's no standard timescale.

A preschool close to me closed suddenly and it was due to admin irregularities such as insurance expiry etc. There was no suggestion of harm to children but even so it had to close immediately

They will close a school / nursery if there are serious safe-guarding concerns. Ds1's school just escaped when staff raised concerns about staffing levels.

This document might help you as it explains action Ofsted takes in various scenarios.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-provider-non-compliance-action-by-ofsted

Thanks all. Guess we better start looking for alternatives. I have some safeguarding responsibilities in my job so think I kind of 'knew' what you've said but needed it confirming. Now just to deal with the guilt of happily waving our hold off to a setting which has been unsafe for the past 6months...

Hold? Child.

It happened a few years ago near me. The allegations of physical abuse were against the nursery owner who was subsequently charged, tried and found not guilty. It never repened. I'm sorry but you do need to stsrt looking elsewhere.

This happened to me. DS was in creche before and after school. I had an email one day to say the creche had been closed until further notice. Reason given that they had been reported to SS but no details.

Thus happened in May and the creche us still closed with no reopening in sight. 2 members of staff are being taken to crown court for child cruelty and child neglect. Both of these have children who attended creche, and are now on the at risk register.

The CCSIW (something like that) has already cleared the creche and given them the go ahead to reopen, without the accused staff. The problem is that now their reputation is mud, and the children who used to attend were now settled in other childcare.

I would look for alternative arrangements.

Thanks all. Still no details emerging really, though the nursery manager is suggesting they think they will reopen soon, am just not sure I share her confidence. My concern is that other parents vote with their feet and so it isn't financially viable so won't reopen... so visiting new nurseries tomorrow.