Stockton nursery told it needs attention in Ofsted report

Early Miles Nursery in Stockton requires improvement in achievement, behaviour and routines, children's welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance.

Ofsted inspectors identified that the nursery had not met the requirements of either the compulsory or voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

They noted that some children were not well prepared to start school because they did not consistently engage in learning experiences or develop listening skills due to lack of staff support.

The report also highlighted concerns around behaviour management, stating that children were not consistently supported in understanding routines and expectations.

Inspectors described staff repeatedly shouting the phrase "empty hands" during tidy-up time, which they said upset some children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

(Image: PA)

Ofsted also raised welfare concerns, including occasions where children were left unsupervised while eating and wandered around with food, creating what inspectors described as a choking risk.

They added that children with SEND and those with gaps in their learning sometimes became upset and staff were not always sure how to help them regulate their emotions.

The report said leaders and staff did not provide a planned and purposeful curriculum and had failed to tailor teaching approaches for some children with SEND.

Inspectors found leaders lacked a clear overview of how effective the curriculum is.

Plus they had not implemented improvements since the previous inspection.

Despite the concerns, inspectors noted some positive aspects of the provision.

Children were found to have strong bonds with staff, while families described the nursery as a small and welcoming environment.

Safeguarding standards were also found to be met, with Ofsted stating leaders had established "an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility".

Overall, though, inspectors said some children had made "minimal progress" in areas including communication and language, with gaps in learning not closing.

The nursery has been ordered to take a series of actions.

The improvements include ensuring children are supervised while eating, improving communication and language support, completing required progress checks, providing additional staff training and strengthening support for children with SEND.

Early Miles Nursery has been contacted for comment.