Satisfactory v Good ofsted at nursery...

[WizzyBizzy]

What really is the difference between Satisfactory and Good when it comes to nurseries? I've looked at the Ofsted website and there's no easy parent-friendly insight that I can find (which sort of begs the question 'what is the point?'). I'm a bit disappointed as my DCs nursery has just been rated Satisfactory. We've had a DC at it for almost 2 years and DC2 has just started. We've always been happy with it - lovely staff with excellent staff retention, nice space, good outside space, DC1 enjoys going and doesn't want to come home etc ). It was rated satisfactory when we started but that inspection had been done when it had just opened and I reassured myself that it was probably just because they hadn't got their paperwork in order. But now, 4 years later, they've got the same rating. I'm not unhappy with the place, so perhaps it doesn't matter, but - with 2 children there and a lot of my ££ invested on a daily basis - I'm also wondering if perhaps I'm not being picky enough and the DCs would be getting more out of a different nursery.

Anyone know what the differences are and if it is something I should be concerned about?

TIA

Maybe the staff spend too much time caring for children and not enough time doing paperwork. Maybe the inspector was involved in a messy divorce at the time and was in a bad mood. Maybe they had one important document that was wrong.
Maybe the nursery isn't very good, but with happy staff and a happy child it sounds like it might be.
I've worked in shit nurseries that were given outstanding ratings. Ofsted ratings are fairly meaningless.
Have a look at some other nurseries and maybe it will set your mind at ease.

Bumping this

Thanks Tiggy.

Hi Wizzybizzy
I agree with Tiggy in that some really terrible nurseries sometimes get outstanding. So it would make sense that some good nurseries get satisfactory to. I am concerned that it has happened twice though- as it means that they have not responded to feedback & advice they were given last time, or that they have let other things slip. Have your read the full report? If you can copy & paste some bits from it (removing the name if you need/want) I can help you translate it into parent friendly speak.

Thanks Stormgirl - full report not available yet (nursery manager told me the result off the record). When it is I'll share. Thanks.

I know some really rubbish outstanding nurseries so really don't worry too much. The inspections do look at a lot of the paperwork and things can just go a bit wrong on the day.

We were told by EY professionals we should easily get an outstanding but on the day the manager seemed to forget where all the paperwork was when the inspector asked and it just didn't go smoothly that particular day due to paperwork issues (which were actually all in place), we got a good but really deserved more. The manager is no longer the manager but even if she was it was then and still is an excellent pre-school where children progress amazingly and SEN is catered for better than anywhere else I have seen.

If the staff and child retention is good then it says a lot about the place, also if they are recording your child's progress well then you know they are looking at the individual needs of your child.