Nursery rated inadequate - but child is happy

[snowybe]

My DDs nursery has recently been rated inadequate which I was quite shocked by. Our DD absolutely loves going to nursery, has a good relationship with the staff in her room, she’s coming along really well in her development.

I was a bit unimpressed initially when she went to the bigger room as the communication wasn’t great, the baby room was fantastic as it’s reflected in this report so my feeling was right, but that’s got a lot better. The ofsted report said there’s concerns on risk assessments, inconsistencies with key persons and curriculum. The nursery was initially good but what sparked a visit was a concern on safeguarding as a child was left on their own. I don’t know full detail.

the nursery have clearly panicked and put in a lot of action plans in and held various meetings to explain how they’re going to improve. There’s a report that says now after a follow up that the nursery have met welfare and safeguarding issues raised.

I don’t know what to do, I don’t like the idea of her being at an adequate nursery when there’s plenty of others but she’s so settled and happy.

Do I wait and see what they do to turn things around, think the next proper inspection is within 6 months.

have any of you had similar and what did you do?

For me it would be all about the detail of the report and how they are reacting to it. In another way you could see it as a real positive that they now have action plans in place, and Ofsted will be monitoring them far more closely than a nursery rated Good. It’s not ideal but I would consider all the info before making a decision to remove.

I'd ask about funding. Usually the government stop the 15 / 30 hour funding if inadequate or needs improvement. If they are happy with the provision and it's a paperwork error that has let them down I'd stay. It all depends on what's in the report.

Would you have any other options if you decided to remove her? In my case I wasn’t happy with my son’s first setting, but it was tough finding somewhere else. My son has SEN, so it felt very important to find somewhere that was going to meet his needs better than the first setting, but if your daughter is typically developing and can generally be fairly self sufficient in a setting then it might be absolutely fine for her to keep attending where she is.

I agree, especially as your child is happy there.

Another nursery may be rated as 'good' and something goes wrong afterwards.

I agree that as long as you are getting the right feeling for the place and DD is happy, I wouldn't move them. As a teacher, I've known some lovely places rated inadequate and I would have been happy with my child where. On the other hand, there's been some outstanding places where I would not send my children!

Definitely read the report about what made it inadequate. Sometimes it's easily fixed things that aren't too much of a big deal. Then make a choice.

If the staff are being upfront and honest with parents and actively making changes to improve them you could wait it out. Settings don't get given inadequate unless they've done something very wrong. Leaving a child on their own is probably why. I would want to know more details such as whether it was an honest but stupid mistake or whether it was something more sinister due to certain terrible staff members.

You say your child is happy there. Do you know that for sure? Is your child old enough to tell you or is it what has been reported to you by staff?

They are taking swift action to be fair and doing it, keeping everyone informed and There’s been a few parents meetings on it as well so they are addressing it. So I guess that’s a positive. Just so disappointing it’s inadequate and I don’t want my child in an adequate nursery.
they left a child alone which sparked the visit. No she can’t tell me if she’s unhappy really.. I need to have a proper think

I'd just remember that its inadequate in Ofsted terms, this may not mean it's inadequate for toddlers and their parents!

All nurseries are only one "error" from being Ofsted rated inadequate.

There’s a report that says now after a follow up that the nursery have met welfare and safeguarding issues raised

From Ofsted?

Yes from ofsted!

I think I’d relax about it then. Sounds like they’ve addressed the issues to Ofsted’s satisfaction.

Ours was awarded inadequate a few years ago and I had the same feelings as you - felt almost like a bad parent for containing to send my child to a ‘bad’ nursery!

However, the nursery failed on lack of knowledge around safeguarding, and while I agree it is vital I also know my own children aren’t at risk. So I didn’t withdraw them and I’m so glad I didn’t because it’s a lovely nursery and is now back to being good.

I don't believe Ofsted not since our local high school went from being outstanding to inadequate then back to outstanding in the space of 18 months!

Ds went to a local lower school that was rated outstanding. By the time he was in year 2 it was rated needs improvement- or something like that. It was in a middle class area and not in our catchment area. Within the next few months about 2/3rds of his class left. I felt bad keeping him there but he had an IEP and was really settled there. At the next school, middle school they joined again.

Also the middle school was rated outstanding while ds was there but 5 years later when dd3 joined it in year 5 it went into special measures. Again a mass exodus of pupils but she liked it there so she stayed. The school was forced to close at the end of her y6 and over 5 years later it still stands empty. Dd3 got 119 greater depth in her SAT'S so didn't affect her.

Nurseries are bad everywhere there is not enough staff to cope with the volume of additional needs children never mind the other children. Standards will slip because staff are so busy trying to cope with the needs of all.
children left on their own extremely common especially in bigger premises. In my career the number probably is easily 20 to 30 including one left on a bus who was asleep. I wouldn't move your child if they are happy

Have they explained how a child was left alone? Was that inside, outside, in the bathroom or what?

What are they specifically saying they've changed to ensure it happened again?

For example many years ago a child was left inside when they went out into the garden at my DS's nursery. They were spotted when a staff member in another room passed by and saw them alone.
That was the Thursday. By the Monday the children all had a wristband with their name on that they hung on the newly installed garden peg in each room. And when they went out to the garden they each took their name band so the last staff member could be sure all the kids were out. They hung them on a peg in the garden and it gave the same safety check for coming back in.

They had a glitch and fixed it well. They still use the same system now I believe and DS is 14. If your child's nursery reacts similarly it's a good thing.

Why move her if she is happy, has good relationships and until this happened you have had no issues. Inspection ratings should not be the be all and end all. Take as you find. Gut feeling.

shes so happy there or at least she seems so, she runs in so happy without even saying bye to me (nice lol) as she wants to see them all, and they’re really trying hard and providing regular updates, so will give benefit of the doubt for now and see how it goes I think and what the next ofsted report is, I think it’s soon after the last one of its bad?

the nursery have clearly panicked and put in a lot of action plans in and held various meetings to explain how they’re going to improve. There’s a report that says now after a follow up that the nursery have met welfare and safeguarding issues raised.

I think there is your answer.
They've not tried to hide / cover up.
They have made a mistake and been shocked by it and done everything they can to rectify it, keeping you (parents) informed as they go.

shes so happy there or at least she seems so, she runs in so happy without even saying bye to me (nice lol) as she wants to see them all, and they’re really trying hard and providing regular updates

This tells you a lot too.

I wouldn't be moving her.