A DAMNING report has revealed a number of serious failings by staff at a nursery who put the children’s safety and welfare at risk.

The Ofsted inspection highlighted several concerns about the safeguarding of the 108 children who currently attend the Co-Operative Childcare Blackbird Leys Nursery and the employees’ ability to adequately look after them.

Some of the criticisms in the report, which has just been released, include staff being “unresponsive to children’s needs”, not being aware of the children’s names and telling toddlers to “stop being silly when they are crying”.

During the unannounced inspection on July 11, Ofsted staff witnessed older children at the nursery in Cuddesdon Way, Oxford, hitting and throwing toys at each other and putting their hands around each other’s necks. The findings were so alarming that the Co-op’s facility had its registration suspended on July 15 after being judged inadequate.

It reopened after Ofsted lifted the initial six-week suspension on July 22, but details of the report which led to the nursery’s closure have only just been made public.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said he and wife Val Smith, a member of Oxford City Council, would be now be keeping a close eye on the nursery to ensure necessary improvements were made.

A letter to parents said senior staff and managers had been suspended, but the Co-op has repeatedly refused to say how many had been suspended and whether they had been able to return.

Spokeswoman Lorna Bishop said an investigation had begun before Ofsted’s visit after the Co-op’s own monitoring process identified failures, but said it would be “inappropriate” to comment further.

She said teachers and experienced managers from other nurseries had been brought in to work with staff, and extra employees recruited, adding: “Staff have received additional training to ensure they fully understand our policies and procedures, to strengthen their understanding and to ensure there is no repeat of any of the issues identified by Ofsted, including any isolated incidents where there may have been an insensitive response to a child.”

She said requirements issued by Ofsted were met in full within three days.

Ms Bishop said: “The nursery was then reopened after five days, which clearly demonstrated Ofsted’s satisfaction with the actions taken and their confidence there were no ongoing welfare risks.

“Co-operative Childcare clearly regrets any welfare requirement notices were issued but we have demonstrated to the satisfaction of Ofsted that we have addressed the concerns.”

She said daily communications were sent to parents, while free childcare arrangements were made with other nurseries in the area, and a parents’ forum was being established.

Among those raising concerns was Oxford East MP Andrew Smith, who contacted Ofsted after the parents of a child at the nursery told him of a “disturbing incident”.

Mr Smith said: “This is very disappointing because the Co-op nursery has been a great facility for the area, but clearly it is vital that the issues Ofsted has identified are properly sorted out.”

  • The key findings:
  • Staff do not recognise inappropriate and potentially dangerous behaviour
  • Staff did not have the ability, understanding and motivation to promote positive outcomes for children
  • Some staff do not know children’s names or their individual routines
  • Legal ratios of children to staff were not met in individual rooms
  • Staff were described as unresponsive to children’s needs
  • There was a high number of accidents in a short period of time
  • Broken and damaged equipment was left in place rather than being removed

There are 108 children on roll from birth to five at the nursery, which employs 24 staff. Jan Thorp is listed online as the nursery manager.

The mother of a 16-month-old girl, who did not wish to be identified, has been using the nursery for eight months.

She said she had previously been impressed by the way in which it had dealt with personal care requirements for her daughter.

But it wasn’t until she brought in her daughter on the Wednesday, two days after it temporarily closed, that she was turned away.

And yesterday she had yet to receive a copy of the full report from the nursery, which had informed her the reasons for the suspension related to paperwork.

She said she had noticed differences on her return to nursery.

She said: “Since it has reopened, when you go in they give you a form to sign them in, whereas before they said they would do it and not to worry.”

The mother said she was happy with the care her daughter received and the relationship she had with her key worker – but said she believed many of the issues related to older children at the nursery.

She said: “I was quite shocked it shut down.

“It worries me what will happen when she goes up to the next stage.”

Ofsted spokesman Nadina Mustafa said: “We lifted the suspension because the registered provider put in place a range of actions to ensure children are no longer at risk of harm. However, we will carry out regular monitoring visits to ensure the nursery is providing the best possible care to children.”