A COLCHESTER nursery has been handed an inadequate rating by an education watchdog after it found it did not take “necessary steps to assure children’s welfare”.
Safari Childcare, in Halstead Road, Colchester, has been graded inadequate by Ofsted following a new report published on Wednesday.
An inspection was held from June 13 to June 27 where Ofsted inspectors Lynn Hughes and Sarah Stephens also ranked the nursery as inadequate in the personal development and management categories.
It was rated good in the quality of education and attitudes categories.
The nursery’s last Ofsted report in 2021 saw it rated good.
However, a weakness in leadership and their “oversight of the provision” means that Safari Childcare does “not consistently safeguard children”.
Children are “not always effectively supervised to ensure their safety” as well.
The report also said overall communication with parents is “generally poor” and “some parents do not feel listened to”.
The report said: “The setting does not have adequate arrangements in place to make sure that communication with parents is effective, especially when they have concerns about the provision.
“Despite these weaknesses, children are settled and enjoy their nursery day.”
Nursery staff do attend regular safeguarding training, so they know the procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made.
There have been complaints sent to Ofsted about the childcare provider in 2021.
The report found staff were not able to consistently recognise when a concern is being made about an adult working with children and swiftly act on these concerns.
The nursery’s child supervision procedures were found to be continually ineffective and as a result, “children are not always in sight and hearing during transition times”, such as moving from inside to the nursery’s garden.
The nursery was registered in 2015 and employs 19 members of staff, 16 of them hold relevant childcare qualifications ranging at levels two to five.
Safari Childcare is open Monday to Fridays for 51 weeks of the year, and its opening times are from 7am until 6.30pm.
A spokesman for Safari Childcare has commented on the Ofsted report and the inspection.
They said: "We take the concerns raised very seriously and are actively working to address any issues highlighted in the report.
"We received a grading of good and the end of the first day of inspection and was subsequently downgraded in a return visit from the Ofsted inspectors.
"However, we contest the findings of the inspection and believe that the report does not accurately reflect the quality of care and education we provide.
"We have formally raised our concerns with Ofsted regarding both the content of the report and the internal handling of the inspection process.
"Safari Childcare has correspondence from the Local Area Designated Safeguarding Officer which directly contradict the evidence gathered on the inspection day which subsequently feeds into information in the report.
"We strongly believe the system must change and until the process for complaints handling at Ofsted is overseen by an independent body, situations such as this will continue to occur.
"As a setting we draw many positives from the report and there are numerous statements noted which highlights good practice which our children benefit from.
"Our commitment to the children and families we serve remains our main focus. We are dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment.
"We appreciate the continued support from our community as we work through this process."
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