Tots at Grenfell nursery are ‘bored’, says report that urges better standards

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

A nursery on the Grenfell estate has gone from “outstanding” to “requires improvement” following an inspection by Ofsted.

The education watchdog said children at Grenfell Early Years on the Lancaster West Estate were bored and sometimes left with nothing to do for long periods of time because of a lack of planning by staff, a report published in May has shown.

They also expressed concerns about hygiene standards, saying children would put toys and malleable objects in their mouths which other children would use later. Grenfell Early Years has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.

Inspectors said staff needed more support in understanding each child’s learning abilities, and to improve hygiene standards to avoid cross-contamination and the spread of infection between pupils.

Ofsted inspectors visited the nursery between February and March this year, and found that although staff were keen to help children progress, there were “inconsistencies in the quality of education”.

They said carers did not engage children in meaningful learning “as much as possible” and lacked interaction with children learning English as an additional language.

The report read: “At times, staff do not fully consider children’s abilities and stages of development, which leads to some children becoming bored and disengaged in their learning. Staff do not always organise whole-group time and routines effectively.

“At times, children wait for extended periods with not much to do. At these times, children’s individual needs are not fully met.”

But inspectors praised staff for building close relationships with children and checking in with parents in the morning. They said school leaders were ambitious and that children experienced a wide range of learning opportunities.

They said staff taught children to wash their hands before snacks and at mealtimes and that younger pupils would snuggle up and listen to stories as staff settled them in for the day.

The report added: “Children enjoy outdoor experiences at the nursery. They learn to use the climbing wall and share their joy in achieving this with staff.

“Younger children use balance boards, and older children use scooters to manoeuvre around the playground. They learn how to manage the slope and take risks.

“Children laugh as staff scoop up leaves and place them in the wheelbarrow and throw them up in the air. They whoop in delight as the wind blows the leaves around the playground, and they repeat the activity, scuttling around to catch them.”

Inspectors also found parents spoke highly of the school and found staff kind and nurturing. Ofsted said it took into account the impact of Covid-19 when making its decision.

Grenfell Early Years was rated Outstanding during a visit in 2019.

Pictured top: The Grenfell Early Years Nursery (Picture: RBKC)