Nursery we chose ages ago just had 'not as good as before' OFSTED - what should I do?

[VeryHungryKatypillar]

DD is going to start her settling in days next week at nursery we chose when I was pg. We were happy with our choice at the time, but I've just seen that they had an OFSTED recently and they have gone from 'good' to 'satisfactory'. No major concerns in OFSTED report (other than hygiene, which I am deffo going to ask about to find out what their remedial actions will be) but I am so gutted. Am I being silly? Does OFSTED really matter? I think the same woman is in charge of the baby room where DD will be, and I really liked her, but is this enough?

Can anyone suggest how I might tackle this subject with the nursery?

We did see another nursery which was very nice too ( it is a chain and still has a good rating by OFSTED) but their facilities were limited in terms of space and they are located in a building occupied by a business which I think may go under and so I don't know what would happen to the nursery i it did. No idea whether they would have places for a few weeks time.

Argh. Am so and worried.

I wouldn't worry
Our nursery got a bad Ofsted report during the 4 years we've been using them
As a consequence they have really pulled their socks up, bought loads of new equipment, refurbished etc and it is loads better now

OFSTED is not the be all and end all

Check what the remedial action will be and if that reassures you then go for it

Most nurseries are rated good or satisfactory i think - very few are outstanding

go with your gut instinct and if you liked the staff and facilities that is hugely important

Don't worry about it. It is still the same nursery you have been happy with all along. Ofsted reports are just a snap shot taken on one particular day. Maybe they had an off day or maybe the inspector did. They aren't done that often either so even if the other nursery was good last time they were tested, maybe the won't be next time. Who knows.

It the hygiene thing worries you then by all means mention it but I wouldn't think about changing nurseries or anything drastic. Satisfactory is fine and as you said there are no major concerns. Give it a go and if your DD isn't happy there think about changing.

You are all lovely, that is what I wanted to hear I think. ALthough I really want to go back to work, am a bit wobbly at thought of DD in nursery 3 days a week and this was an extra reason for worrying at night.

Just hope when I visit next week (first time in 9 months) that it is as I remember it.

(Can you see I'm a born worrier?)

My dds have been in 3 primary schools (due to house moves) variously rated Excellent, Good and Satisfactory by OFSTED. As parents we can't see much difference between the three, all the schools have been lovely, the children happy and motivated and achieving, the teachers dedicated and enthusiastic. Ofsted can be very fickle.

The nursery my two went to for 8 years in total was absolutely fantastic. However reading the OFSTED report it was all satisfactory and good. (The latest one is all good). However when you read the report there is nothing that jumps out as being a problem and it's all a bit 'airy fairy'. I think the best measure is your own instinct and the feel of the place. Do you trust these people to look after your child which is what it boils down to. These days we are so obsessed about two year olds knowing their alphabet and being able to read Dostoevsky at 3 that the truely important things like your child being happy, healthy and safe are completely over looked.

I know one of the critisms our nursery got was that they didn't play classical music as well as all the Tweenies sing along stuff!!

The fact that they went down a rating will probably mean that they work extra hard in those areas to improve.
Just ask them why they got a bad rating in hygiene and what they are going to do now - it's a legimate question and they're probably prepared for it!

Another thing I meant to say is that their mark may well have been dragged down by how well they do their paperwork and follow initiatives and in reality, has very little to do with how happy the children are and how well they are cared for.

Good luck with your return to work

as someone who works in a nursery I can say that OFSTED reports are not that representative of what a nursery does on a day to day basis. Also nurseries have had a whole raft of new guidelines and legislation to get thrir heads round, and it all takes time.