Ofsted closed nursery - experience or advice

[Ofstedclose]

Found out this evening that the nursery week be closed from tomorrow. If this has happened to you, can you tell me how it went please? Especially:

• did Ofsted communicate the reason to you and how long did that take?

• did you receive a refund of fees?

• did the nursery close?

Thanks for any advice

I've worked in a local authority where this happened. Ofsted closed due to safeguarding issue. Unfortunately no money was returned to parents by the nursery as it folded. All parents had to find new childcare.

You should contact your local authority as they will have also been notified, to help you find alternative childcare.

Thank you. I thought as much about the refund. Terrible, I'm hoping all the children are safe. Can't afford to pay twice for the full month so in quite the pickle for the next few weeks whatever.

It may be due to safeguarding (would be significant to warrens closure) it could be financial though simply a lack of money. Rubbish if you don't get your money back though.

If Ofsted have closed it, it's likely due to a serious safeguarding issue. You can check if your nursery has had any complaints made to Ofsted recently by checking the nursery's report page on Ofsted website. They don't go into loads of detail no.

It depends on the issue whether they'd need to close permanently- it could be a simple thing like staff's paediatric first aid certificates not up to date which can be sorted fairly quickly

If your child is directly connected with the issue then then regulator will be in touch with you, and local authority safeguarding team etc. You have not heard from them so likely not something to concern you.

Contact your local authority early years team today (Some County councils have a Family Information Service, so contact that they will redirect you if needed) so you can get the ball rolling on finding a new childcare provider.

Finances in the sector are resulting in closures so it may have nothing to do with the regulator. Keep an eye on nursery Facebook page, website etc, to see if details of an administrator/liquidator get provided. You will be a creditor, one of many, so you want to make sure you are on the list, but you may never see any money back.

Have you had a letter from Ofsted, or have you found out directly from the nursery?

If the letter is from Ofsted, then it is a regulatory issue it may be a temporary closure, though that is not of much help to you if you need childcare now. Contact local authority to see what other providers have temporary spaces, with view to being permanent.

This is usually due to a significant safeguarding failure, possibly involving a police investigation. It will not have been done lightly.

Thank you @WhatILoved I can't see anything other than the last inspection report.

Thanks @nannynick it was the nursery who said they've been closed by ofsted and that ofsted would be in touch. Does the county council early years team help specifically because our nursery has been closed? I've contacted a few nurseries already. Could really do with this months fee we've paid in advance though! Doubtful the nursery will refund but I can hope.

Thanks @foolsrule I'm definitely not quibbling why it's been closed, hoping everyone is okay. I'm sure we will learn more as time passes.

It will take a couple of weeks for the Concern Letter to appear on the Ofsted site. So that is not of much help. You will likely get something via nursery/Ofsted before then.

Yes, Family Information Service / Early Years Team is responsible to help you find alternative care in a situation like this. There is not much they can do, as they may not have up to date figures for which providers have vacancies. So you are right to start calling nurseries yourself but if you are getting nowhere then contact council and see if they can suggest others.

Thanks @nannynick that's very helpful.

Yes the fis is pretty slow as most nurseries/childminders advertise vacancies elsewhere. Our borough's system is rubbish and when I try to update vacancies it crashes.

I know it's been a while, but wondering what happened with refunds etc. The same thing has just happened to me.

We were lucky and the nursery gave a full refund. Good luck to you.

We were lucky and the nursery gave a full refund. Good luck to you.