'We are proud of progress' - Telford nursery upgraded from 'Inadequate' Ofsted rating after improvements
A Telford nursery that was previously rated 'Inadequate' says it is "proud" of significant progress identified in a new Ofsted report.
Inspectors revisited Small Talk Nurseries in Dawley in September and have now upgraded the setting to 'Requires Improvement' in all areas.
While the nursery still falls short of a 'Good' rating, leaders say they are pleased with the strides made in a short space of time.
The nursery, that opened in 2022, was previously rated 'Inadequate' by Ofsted following an inspection in June. At the time, Ofsted raised several safeguarding concerns, noting hazards such as "uneven and worn" surface areas and "sharp objects and broken plastic containers" attached to gates in areas where children play.
However, in a new report, published on Tuesday, October 21, Ofsted recognised the nursery's efforts, saying leaders have since "implemented rigorous risk assessments to maintain the safety of children that attend the nursery."
Inspectors also said leaders have "high ambitions" for the future and have introduced systems to to monitor and assess areas for further improvement.
A Small Talk Nurseries spokesperson said: "We are pleased that Ofsted has recognised the improvements made. The management team and staff have worked extremely hard to enhance the nursery and we have a strong system in place for Small Talk Nursery Telford to continue to improve, as we strive to become the best we can be.
"The Ofsted inspector praised us for our robust with our safeguarding procedures and risk assessments, as well as the implementation of our curriculum. We have transformed our garden area into a welcoming, safe and fun play area where the children can learn and develop.
"It's rare for settings to jump from an 'Inadequate' to a 'Good' immediately. We are proud of the achievements attained in the limited time constrains given. It is standard that Ofsted allow settings six months to improve before reinspection, however due to the changes to the inspection framework we were restricted to a timeline of three months to rapidly make improvements.
"The inspector recognised this and highly praised the team for the changes."
Although the nursery remains rated 'Requires Improvement' in all four key areas - the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management - the report was full of praise for the improvements made.
Ofsted commended the nursery's nurturing environment, saying children’s care needs are "well met," with children entering the setting happily and being warmly greeted by friendly staff.
The nursery's curriculum was also highlighted, with inspectors noting that children benefit from a range of meaningful experiences. Parents were said to speak positively about the nursery and the progress their children are making.
"Since the last inspection, leaders have implemented rigorous risk assessments to maintain the safety of children that attend the nursery," it read. "Staff teach children about how they can keep themselves safe. This includes inviting children to carry out daily assessments of the outdoor area. Young children enjoy taking part in daily safety checks outside and older children record the areas that they have checked.
"Recent changes to the leadership team have been managed well and leaders have high ambitions for the future of the nursery. They have some systems in place to reflect on practice and identify areas for improvement. However, these systems are not yet fully embedded to ensure that staff receive effective mentoring and coaching to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level."
The full report can be read here.
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