Understanding care inspectorate reports

[theotherfossilsister]

Hello, just wondered if someone can help us to understand care inspectorate reports for nurseries. DS's nursery, which he's due to start I'm August has all fours,which I thought was good, but a friend who works in childcare said they should get at least one five. There is another nursery with all fives but the waiting list is huge so I'd have to take another six months off work.

I liked the nursery when we looked round but very keen for ds to be safe, happy, loved, which I guess is what all parents want.

Last inspection was 2018

Could your friend who works in childcare visit the nursery with you? Or ask around for info? I wouldn't go to a nursery that flagged up safety concerns (eg one where children were being left alone; or shouted at) but I don't think after that they are a very useful source of info.
can you post on a local Facebook group just to ask for recommendations or info?

I wouldn't judge purely on a care inspectorate report to be honest. I used to be chair at our local pre-school playgroup place which was committee run and we had an annual Care Inspection, they only see a snapshot of what was going on and quite often focus on the record keeping and admin side of things. A playgroup/preschool should obviously not be sloppy about recording dates of PVG checks, but if they do then the score low - doesn't mean it's not a great place to send your kids.

By all means have a look at the reports, especially any complaints or things they have been told to improve on, but that should be just one of many factors you take into consideration. It's far better to talk to other parents and personal recommendation. Also ask if you can visit - we used to show parents around all the time and they'd see happy, engaged kids having fun with loads of resources and interested staff.

Oh and if the last inspection was 2018 I'd pay even less attention to it. That's 5 years ago and staff will have changed.

2018 was a long time ago so I wouldn't put too much stock in it. The inspection framework has changed significantly and I am seeing huge differences in scores. I wouldn't be horrified at 4s under the current framework or the old though, you really need to read the detail to see what caused the 4s. It's very variable and sometimes the things which cause downgrading are really not that important. Other times they're much more significant.

My daughter's nursery, for example, just got a 4 for quality of environment. It's a brand new, purpose built council nursery which was built as part of a brand new primary school. It has everything - great equipment, good light and ventilation, very child friendly loos, freeflow outdoor space...If you saw it you'd be thinking "WTF" at a 4 - and I say that as someone who runs a childcare business!

Thanks. Looking round it seemed really nice, with a sensory baby tent and trips to the park every day and even a forest school for the older ones. The fours worry me a bit but yes it was 2018.

I'm not really sure what we should be looking for. I know dp preferred the one we didn't get a place in unless I stay off until Jan, but I didn't view that one as had my cpn (ironically for anxiety) that day.

He'll be going three days a week from mid August

@Snowontheblow I don't think she could. Dp and I went round together already and the deposit is paid but I keep wavering.

There is another nursery literally next to MIL but no spaces there

Fours are not terrible , because if it was they would have been inspected again. They’re probably due one soon.

like others say the framework for inspection has changed since then, and I think you have visited and were happy with it then go for it.

what were the issues? What things were they given to improve or work on?