Westminster nursery closed after Ofsted found it was not following safeguarding procedures

By Jacob Phillips Local Democracy Reporter

A Central London nursery has been forced to close after it left disabled children staring at cartoons on iPads rather than teaching them.

Rainbow nursery in Westminster was shut after Ofsted inspectors found children had been put at risk by being placed in the care of strangers.

Ofsted found the nursery had not been following safeguarding procedures and children had been left with agency staff they did not know.

The specialist nursery cares for children aged between two and five who have special and complex needs.

In an August 26 report, Ofsted ruled the children were unable to learn as they did not know individual children well enough to build on their knowledge or skills.

The school watchdog had previously raised concerns that nursery staff were not trained in food hygiene.

Since then a range of issues had developed at the nursery.

The nursery had not had a manager since May and staff were found to be over-stretched and burdened.

Parents had also complained that children did not have any routine or familiarity with the adults who worked there.

The report explains children with additional needs are left for most of the morning watching cartoons on an “electronic tablet.”

Children were only given a 30-minute break each day, the report found.

Inspectors found babies were very unsettled as unfamiliar staff were unaware of their needs and children who could not speak English were not taught any language skills.

Many children were left flitting around the nursery rather than engaging in purposeful play, Ofsted said.

Staff were also not trained to vet visitors to ensure strangers did not wander into the nursery.

The nursery has since been closed.

Rainbow Family Centre has been contacted for comment.