THE operators of a nursery have apologised to families after inspectors said it needs to improve.
Ofsted visited the Kiddi Caru Day Nursery and Preschool in Pembroke Road, Soundwell, in June. The regulator said the nursery, which has 129 children aged five and under on its roll, needs to improve in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.
It was Ofsted’s first visit since the nursery, run by national chain Grandir UK, opened in 2023.
Inspectors Louise Phillips and Charlotte Jenkin found areas to praise, saying staff in the baby and toddler room build secure relationships that help children feel “safe and ready to learn”.
They also highlighted the “well sequenced” curriculum for younger children and support for physical activity, which is “woven throughout the day” both indoors and outdoors, and enables children to challenge themselves, with support from staff.
But the inspectors said the personal, social and emotional development curriculum for pre-school children is not implemented effectively.
They said: “Staff do not reinforce clear rules or expectations, which leads to older children shouting over each other, running between activities, and struggling to manage their behaviour.
“Children with special educational needs or disabilities are not supported to understand the consequences of their actions or practise strategies to help them self-regulate.”
The inspectors said communication is “prioritised from the earliest stages”, with language clearly and consistently modelled for younger children, support for older children to learn new words in the right context and targeted activities for children with delayed language development.
But they said staff do not recognise “gaps” in some children’s learning early enough.
The inspectors said parents “speak warmly” about the care received by their children.
They said a newly-appointed leadership team had identified weaknesses, given staff extra training and created a sensory room to create a quieter space.
But they said the improvements aren’t “fully embedded in practice”, and staff do not consistently reinforce the rules and boundaries in the pre-school room, which had caused “ongoing disruption”.
To improve, the inspectors said staff need to consistently help children understand and follow rules, express feelings, and regulate behaviour. They must also identify learning needs promptly and work with parents and outside professionals to close gaps in learning.
Grandir UK said it was “extremely disappointed” in the rating.
A spokesperson said: “We take Ofsted’s feedback very seriously and we apologise to our families for falling below the standards they would expect from us. We are committed to providing the highest standards of care and education, and we have worked hard to address the two points raised to improve children’s learning. Our highest priority, as always, is the safety, well-being and education of all children in our care and we will continue to strive to ensure that the next time Ofsted visits, the outcome of the inspection will be very different.”