A NURSERY in Bardsley, Oldham has been upgraded from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ in a matter of months.
The Medlock Day Nursery, on Ashton Road was rated ‘inadequate’ in a damning Ofsted inspection on October 13, its first inspection since the start of the pandemic.
The nursery was told it was ‘inadequate’ overall, with the quality of education, leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes and personal development categories all highlighted as areas of failure.
An inspection just three months later on February 18 has however rated the nursery ‘good’ in all categories and ‘good’ overall.
A report following the October visit, stated that 'some children arrive happy and quickly busy themselves with play at this setting' while others ‘spend a large portion of their day crying'.
The report added that while children 'wander while holding onto their comforters’ staff ‘do not always attempt to help them manage their emotions’ or support the children who are new to the setting and adjusting to spending time away from their parents for the first time.
In stark contrast the February report reads: “Children settle well on arrival, supported by their key person.
“Considerate staff tenderly greet children with a hug and a smile. Children enter with huge grins, showing they are happy and excited to play and learn.
"Children have a great time in this homely but stimulating setting.”
In October, inspector Shauneen Wainwright said the nursery was ‘unaware that staff smoke on the premises when children are present’ placing ‘children's health at risk’.
In the latest report, there is no mention of smoking on the premises and staff are referred to as ‘kind and happy role models'.
In response to the new report, nursery owner Nicola Morris said: “I’m pleased to advise that after a reinspection the nursery has quite rightly been awarded a ‘good’ Ofsted rating and has been acknowledged for the work that we do for the children and families in our setting.
“The previous report rightly raised concerns for families in attendance and we are thrilled that the majority of them had enough confidence in us and their own experiences to realise what was printed was not a true reflection of our setting.”
The full report will be published on the Ofsted website in a week’s time.
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