Nursery slips from outstanding to inadequate after damning Ofsted report

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

A South London nursery that an inspector was able to walk into off the street unchallenged has been slammed by Ofsted.

Step by Step Day Nursery in Monument Gardens, Hither Green, was downgraded from outstanding to inadequate in all areas following a visit by the education watchdog in February.

An inspector criticised the nursery, which has 76 children registered at it, for failing to keep children safe.

Some fire exit doors at the nursery were blocked, while antibacterial spray was left in the toilet area that could be accessed by children, they noted.

A report published on April 25 said: “On the day of the inspection, the inspector was able to enter the premises unchallenged. Although a broken door mechanism was rectified on the day, children are exposed to further risks.

“For example, staff do not ensure that the outdoor communal play area is secure.”

Staff at the nursery were criticised for failing to supervise kids when they were eating snacks that posed a choking hazard.

The inspector noted workers tried to keep children on a carpeted area “with very little to do”.

The report continued: “Staff teaching is weak. This impacts on children’s behaviour. Staff fail to intervene when children throw resources with force into cupboards and slam doors of the pretend kitchen.

“Children become distressed, lose focus and become disinterested during poorly-planned activities that do not meet their needs.”

The inspector said some staff read to children from books that were too small for them to see, and didn’t help them build their vocabulary or hold conversations enough.

“Workers were failing to “consider the individual learning needs of children in their care, including children with SEND [Special Educational Needs and Disabilities] and those in receipt of additional funding,” the report added.

Step by Step Day Nursery’s manager was criticised for giving staff a lack of proper supervision and support.

The inspector noted the manager no longer met individually with workers and said some appeared not to know what was expected of them.

Despite this, the Ofsted report acknowledged that parents found staff “friendly, inclusive and supportive,” and said they “appreciated” equipment provided to improve their kids’ physical skills.

Before its most recent inspection, Step by Step Day Nursery was last visited by Ofsted in 2017. It was rated outstanding in all areas on that occasion.

Step by Step Day Nursery declined to comment on the report.

Pictured top: Generic picture. Child does not attend the nursery (Picture: Pickpik.com)