A NURSERY where children were at “significant risk” has started to make improvements after follow-up checks by the children’s services watchdog.

Orchard Barns Nursery, in Colchester Road, Ardleigh, was rated inadequate by Ofsted following an inspection in December 2021.

It received the concerning verdict across the board in the overall effectiveness, quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management criteria.

But the watchdog said Orchard Barns notified it on February 9 after policies and procedures which had not been followed led to a young child being unsupervised, for a short time, in the outdoor area.

It means the troubled nursery met its legal responsibility as set out by Ofsted for the authority to be notified in the event of an incident which is likely to affect the suitability of an early years provider.

Read more: 'Children were at significant risk' - inspector condemns nursery in report

Following this, last Wednesday Ofsted carried out a regulatory telephone call which found the nursery was not meeting some of the requirements of its statutory framework. However, they had been put right.

It was highlighted senior staff now oversee when staff and children return indoors, with staff having been re-issued with policies and procedures and further training identified.