A NURSERY school in Oxford has been rated inadequate by inspectors who said some children there were at risk of harm.

The Oxford Nursery in Marston Ferry Road, Summertown, was inspected by Ofsted on June 11 and was deemed to be inadequate in all areas.

It comes after poor Ofsted reports in recent months for other nurseries in the area, as well as one that had to shut down after allegations of assault.

Inspector Natasha Crellin said one child was seen playing with a plastic bag while babies were left in highchairs to feed themselves.

The report said babies and toddlers were said to be at risk of harm because they were not supervised properly.

She added sleeping babies were not checked as they should have been.

The report also said babies’ safety was compromised at lunchtime because children were not supervised properly and that this also led to poor behaviour and mealtimes, which were “noisy, messy and chaotic.”

Staff were said not to adhere to safeguarding procedures put in place to help ensure staff and children were safe during nappy changing.

Ms Crellin said: “Inappropriate and dangerous items, such as rubbish, plastic bags, thumb tacks and wobbly furniture pose a risk to children.

“For example, a toddler left a group and entertained themselves by playing with a discarded plastic bag.

“Children put their feet and shoes on the table [at mealtimes], which is unhygienic and does not teach children appropriate social skills.

“Babies are left in a row of highchairs to feed themselves.”

She also said the quality of teaching was poor.

Ms Crellin added the nursery’s strength was that children had daily access to the outdoors and enjoyed a range of activities to help develop physical skills.

Councillor Liz Wade, whose St Margaret’s ward covers the nursery, said she was concerned by issues with recent inspections in the area.

Park Town Nursery in North Oxford was closed in January after allegations of children being physically abused.

Kids Unlimited Nurseries in St Margaret’s also received an inadequate rating after its most recent inspection in May.

Summertown Montessori Nurseries in Portland Road has been rated as “requires improvement”, one level above inadequate, twice in a row – including an inspection last month.

Ms Wade said: “I would express concern that there would be any nursery in the centre of Oxford which would be inadequate.

“I cannot comment specifically on The Oxford Nursery but overall it is a concern.”

Due to the inadequate rating, Ofsted will issue a requirements notice asking staff at the nursery to ensure they are constantly vigilant of risks to babies and toddlers and to address other issues raised following the inspection.

The Oxford Nursery did not respond to requests for comment.