Sheffield NHS-run nursery branded '˜inadequate' by inspectors

Ofsted inspectors found the Sunshine Day Nursery on Beech Hill Road, Broomhill, was failing on leadership, teaching, children’s welfare and their pre-school development.

All four areas of inspection on March 30 scored the lowest mark of 4 and Ofsted officials have said the nursery needs to drastically improve its standards.

One of the main concerns was safety and the lack of staff who held first-aid certificates.

The report said: “Senior managers have failed to ensure that at least one member of staff who has an appropriate first-aid certificate is on the premises at all times when children are present.

“Risk assessment is ineffective. This is because the staff do not identify and minimise all hazards to children throughout the day.

”Staff do not accurately assess children’s development and use the information to plan purposeful play for each child’s individual needs. Children are not provided with suitably challenging learning experiences and their progress is hindered.

”Senior managers do not effectively monitor the quality of the teaching practice. Staff do not receive effective supervision, training or coaching to help improve their performance.”

The report said children who attended the nursery were not fully prepared to go onto primary school and small items which could be seen as choking hazards were easily accessible.

The nursery, which is run by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, has space for 144 children and employs 65 members of staff.

The report did say the nursery had a good relationship with parents and the children were generally happy and enjoy their time at nursery.

A nursery spokesman said many of the concerns raised in the report have already been acted on.

He said: “Whilst this latest rating suggests some improvements in processes and procedures are needed it also clearly states that when inspectors visited they felt the children were happy and that parents were very complimentary about the nursery and that staff were supportive of the children’s care and learning, well trained, enthusiastic and motivated.

“One issue raised was training of staff in risk assessment procedures for safeguarding and first aid.

“Staff have been trained in these areas to NHS standards rather than the Ofsted version.

“More than the required number of staff have now received the additional training.

“The majority of the other improvements have already been addressed or are being actioned as a priority.”

The spokesman added: “The nursery has a really good relationship with parents and have been very open in sharing the report findings.

“In response we have had tremendous support from parents and no children have been taken out of the nursery as a result of this issue.”