DD's nursery has just been rated inadequate..

[Ginspirational]

DD has been going to this nursery for a year and loves it - she's thrived there and we've never had an issue. We were really happy with the observations, her care and what we saw on drop off/pick up. She has allergies and they've never slipped up and are really careful. All in all, we've been really happy with the care provided.

They've just been rated inadequate due to pretty much the management of the nursery. It says they are all new to their roles/supervision of staff is poor/lack of coaching/information isn't communicated between management and staff. Nowhere in the report are there any concerns about the care or welfare of the children - in fact that's the only redeeming part.

They have sent a very lengthy email to parents stating how devastated they are and how they are committing to changing their rating, but that they are also appealing this rating because they feel it isn't justified.

I'm obviously upset and hate to think I'm sending DD somewhere that isn't good enough - even though she is clearly blossoming and enjoys it. What would you do? I'm inclined to keep her there, but DH isn't so sure now.

I would definitely keep her there no question!! You say it's nothing to do with the care of the children, you've been happy with it and she's thriving so it's a no brainer really!

Happened in our second nursery with our 3rd child. We were happy to let her stay.

She attended another outstanding nursery before this which wasn't in my opinion very great.

Thank you - my gut feeling is definitely to keep her there. I really feel for the staff, they work so hard and it's clear how much the kids love them. My DD literally gives them all a cuddle before she leaves! They are absolutely gutted - but I can imagine management of nurseries is quite a high turnover.

What are your other options? In our area all nurseries are full, so I would have no choice. On balance I’d be inclined to keep her there if she is happy but I’d also look at other options and waiting lists in case other parents jump ship, staff leave and the place goes under.

Keep her there! A primary school in my area went from Outstanding to Inadequate, purely based on leadership. The children were still perfectly happy and thriving. It was back to Good in a very short period of time and hasn't wavered since.

There’s a lot to be said about her being happy. My two are at a nursery that had a bad OFSTED, management hasn’t changed but their rating improved on their next inspection. I have no doubts about my DCs happiness.

unfortunately, Ofsted can be a law unto themselves. If your daughter is happy there I would keep her there. Sometimes inspections can pick up serious issues such as safeguarding which is a different matter. Very often, inspectors don’t sing from the same hymn sheet and it can lead to big discrepancies between inspections.

I have minimal faith in Ofsted -if she's happy there and you think the care is good, I'd keep her there. You know best! I'd be surprised if you can find a place elsewhere anyway.

Good care and happy children is more important to me than perceived management strategies and administration. I do say this with the benefit of hindsight and experience though. I appreciate that "in the moment" you will be having doubts - seeing an "official rating" of inadequate makes you think the nursery is inadequate. It is not. I repeat - IT IS NOT.

Please also remember the devastation of an "inadequate" rating on the staff - there was a head teacher who very tragically took her own life over the guilt and shame of this. Ofsted do not deal in happiness and nurturing - they deal on administration and box ticking. The staff will be crushed by this.

OFSTED is alotttt of boxing ticking unfortunately, sounds like things that they will be able to pick up quickly and will pass with their follow up inspection.

Happened to us, rated inadequate for same kind of reasons after years of always having a 'good' rating. All parents were shocked and everyone commented on how happy their children were there. Nursery took it incredibly seriously and had regular meetings with parents and updated us regularly.

I visited other nurseries when considering moving my child but none compared and none gave me a good gut feeling. As I wasn't concerned about son's happiness or safety I kept him at the nursery

It took a number of months but the nursery worked so hard and addressed every concern that Ofsted had. They were revisited twice and now have been upgraded to a 'good' status.

In the end, we looked at it all as a good thing to happen as they really turned it around. Also most of the nurseries I had visited as alternatives hadn't had a visit from Ofsted in at least 3 years so I figured at least we knew what we were dealing with at the current nursery.

I would say if you are satisfied with the nurseries response and their commitment to resolving the issues and if you have no concerns re your child's safety or happiness that counts for a lot

I'd keep her there and would also write a supportive statement as a parent if you haven't already done so via questionnaire.

Our nursery had a disastrous Ofsted. They met with all the parents, explained what had happened and what they were doing about it.

They got a new manager, who upset all the staff so they all left 🙄 but we could see as parents an improvement in various aspects.

It was slightly easier as dd1 was in the preschool room, she had been there 2 years and we knew it was not perfect, we could see exactly how the problems had happened, we weren't actually surprised but it wasn't stuff we cared about.

I'd keep her there.

The staff are probably really good and caring and it's just the managers haven't got plans in place for how to teach the staff how to be good and caring (which doesn't matter as they are already good)

Or there are insufficient risk assessments filed or some crap.

Ignore it. The staff are good. Your child is happy.

This.

I would keep her there.
OFSTED make a lot of poor judgements.
The one word grading is such a shocking system.
Read the report on-line and see what they actually say, then make your own judgement based on your experience over a year (not one day OFSTED were in) and your gut instinct, and taking into account whether what they have failed on, actually impacts upon your little one.

I find one-word Ofsted judgements profoundly unhelpful for exactly this reason. Rather than giving you a broad picture of the setting and letting you draw conclusions about which of the matters discussed are (or aren't) significant to you, they slap a big label on - which may be largely about things that you weren't concerned about anyway, but then you find yourself questioning and doubting your own perceptions. And I think that just as much about outstanding judgements as inadequate ones, to be honest. People go all starry eyed about them when they wouldn't necessarily have cared in the slightest about a lot of the things that led to that rating.

Your child is happy, her welfare in the setting is not a concern to you, and you describe her as 'blossoming'. Why on earth would you remove her?

Thank you everyone, I think we were just so shocked.

We are going to keep her there and I’ve emailed the nursery to say we wholeheartedly trust DD in their care and will support them. Gut instinct is definitely the way with this!

If there are no issues with care or safeguarding I’d stick it out and give the new management a chance. If your DD is happy and thriving that’s the important bit.

Just ignore it it means nothing

If I was looking for a new nursery, it would be a definite nope. But with inside info, a settled child there, and no concerns over the care if the children (the bit that matters), then yes I'd stay of I felt comfortable doing so. I hope they turn it around soon op x

I think they will really appreciate hearing this.

Keep her there if she's happy and settled, but watch out for sudden large staff turnover if extra pressure is put on them.
They're probably crap at paperwork and good at kids...

OP I have worked at a college which was given every grade that exists in the 20 years I worked there, during which time there was no real change or difference in the college from the point of view of staff or students. There is no way it was ‘outstanding’ just as it was also not ‘inadequate’ it was just fine, like most places are. Having experienced umpteen inspections (I am now 62) I take grades with a big pinch of salt. Read the details in the report but don’t get hung up on the grade, your own experience is the most important thing.

Incidentally I have had the same experience with my parents’ care home. Its grades have gone up and down like a yo-yo based on paperwork issues. In the meantime the residents and their families have been consistently happy with it.

The only danger is knee jerk reactions by owners who might force staff out, or low staff morale.

Ofsted is a whole load of box ticking. If your DD is safe and happy then I agree - I'd leave her there.

Can you post the ofstead report? I’d be interested on what the issues were