'Good' Taplow nursery downgraded to ‘Inadequate’ over safety concerns

A Taplow nursery and pre-school has said it is ‘deeply disappointed’ after its Ofsted rating was bumped down significantly from ‘Good’ to an ‘Inadequate’ overall effectiveness rating.

Silchester Manor Nursery, based in Bath Road, is run by Partou, a childcare group which runs 12 provisions.

The nursery was last rated in 2022 and received a Good rating. But in the latest inspection, taken in July, the damning Ofsted report begins: “Children’s safety is not assured at this setting.”

Their ‘safety is compromised’ during mealtimes, the report notes. Children ‘sit down at tables and self-serve their food without adult supervision’.

“This does not protect children in the event of a choking incident,” Ofsted wrote. “In addition, staff do not ensure that all children have access to drinking water.”

Further, the report says children are exposed to other risks, such as a trip hazard posed by a garden hose running along the top of some steps.

Staff attempt to teach children how to keep themselves safe but teaching is ‘not effective.’

For example, though children show some knowledge of how to protect themselves in the sun, staff do not ensure that children put this into practice.

Despite the weaknesses, children ‘are happy and have secure bonds’ with staff. Generally, parents are happy with the care their children receive.

Children enjoy the well-planned outdoor areas and have plenty of opportunities to run and use climbing equipment.

In addition, children with special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND) receive appropriate support. Children who speak English as an additional language are encouraged to use their home language at the nursery.

If children show they are frustrated or upset, staff use effective strategies to help them regulate their emotions.

Staff plan a wide range of activities for children, and they gather information about children’s backgrounds, helping plan celebrations of different faiths.

They generally support older children’s communication and language well – however, the support for the youngest children is less effective.

“Staff talk to children and ask questions but do not give them time to think and respond,” Ofsted wrote.

Moreover, leaders and managers ‘do not have effective oversight of the nursery’, inspectors noted.

Responding, a spokesperson for Silchester Manor Day Nursery & Pre-school said: “We are deeply disappointed by the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection … and fully accept the findings of the report.

“While the inspection recognised some positives… the concerns raised around health and safety, team deployment, and leadership fall significantly short of the standards we expect and are committed to delivering.

“This rating does not reflect the level of care we strive for across Partou and we are treating the outcome with the utmost seriousness.

“Immediate and comprehensive action is already underway to address the issues identified.

“Despite the rating, we are encouraged that the report acknowledged the strong relationships between staff and children, effective behaviour management, and the provision of inclusive learning experiences.

“That said, this does not remove the impetus for urgent and lasting improvement.

“We remain fully committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment for every child in our care.

“We will continue to work closely with Ofsted, our families, and the local authority as we move forward with our improvement plan.”