Nursery bosses 'devastated' with 'inadequate' Ofsted rating breaking 20 years of ‘good provision'

A nursery in Redcar which sparked concerns over safeguarding from Ofsted inspectors has taken action to address the issues.

Bosses at the Little Waves Daycare were "devastated" when Ofsted found the overall effectiveness of childcare provision to be inadequate. The regulator said arrangements for safeguarding were not effective and took enforcement action due to breaches of the requirements.

In a statement, the nursery said the judgement was taken "extremely seriously" and immediate action was launched. Inspectors returned for a regulatory visit on November 5 and said they were satisfied the appropriate measures had been taken.

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The nursery, which operates in the Green Gates Family Hub off Keilder Close, previously received a "good" rating from Ofsted. However, in its latest report, inspectors found the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management all to be inadequate.

Staff were found to be kind and helpful joining in with children's play. However "significant" weaknesses were highlighted which inspectors said would impact on children's care, learning and development.

"There is a broad curriculum for children's learning. However, this is not understood or followed by staff and does not have the intended impact on children's development," said the report.

It also said arrangements to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) "are not focused enough" to help them to make the best possible progress. Regarding safeguarding, the report said: "Children's welfare is not fully assured.

"This is because leaders and staff have a weak understanding of how to identify and protect children at risk from harm or abuse, and are unclear on how to respond and report any concerns they may have. They are not aware of the reasons that some families have support from social care services, or of the factors affecting children's welfare outside nursery."

The welfare requirements notice called for training for designated leaders in the nursery. Following the latest visit, inspectors said these matters had been put right.

Leaders, managers and staff had been provided with "effective supervision to help them drive improvements forward" said the report "In addition, the provider has improved the arrangements to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities," said the update.

Following the second visit, the nursery issued the following statement: "We are all devastated that on October 14, 2024, after 20 years of being judged as a ‘good’ provision, Ofsted inspected our setting and decided to give us an inadequate rating this time around. We have taken this judgement extremely seriously, looked deeply into practice and took immediate action.

"We look forward to, and eagerly await re-inspection which will happen within the next few months. We are certain that Inspectors will see the setting as we all know and love it to be and that we are determined to gain our 'good' rating back.

"In the meantime, we will continue to provide the best possible childcare and education for all of the children who come to us. We as a team, thank all of the families who choose our setting for their continued support.

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