Nursery put children 'at significant risk of harm'

Grasshoppers Nursery was rated inadequate and ordered to improve

A Lancashire nursery ordered to temporarily close had put children "at significant risk of harm", inspectors have said.

Grasshoppers Nursery in Fulwood, Preston, had its registration to provide childcare services suspended by Ofsted on 11 September "following information received about the provider".

Releasing details of the full inspection, the watchdog said it found the nursery "does not provide a safe and secure environment for children" while management was described as "weak".

Giving the nursery an inadequate rating, inspectors said it was "significantly under-staffed" leaving staff "feeling overwhelmed and the environment chaotic".

It said staff did not have the skills, training and knowledge to keep children safe, and were not sure who is in charge each day or who to report concerns to.

A range of concerns were raised at the nursery in Fulwood, Preston

"Children are not prepared for the next stage in their learning," the inspectors found.

Management had also not ensured there was an experienced and trained person in charge of the nursery which "put children's welfare at risk", they said.

The report said while the children "behaved well" their communication was "limited" and many were "encouraged to speak and sing with dummies in their mouth".

Further issues included:

• Inadequate hygiene with some children eating lunch without washing their hands after messy play

• Low staff morale

• Poor communication with parents on their child's progress

• Furniture, such as toy kitchen units, were not secure and babies were able to tip them over

• Cleaning spray bottles left accessible to children

The nursery, on Oliver's Place, opened in 2019 and was rated "good" in all areas when it was last inspected in 2021.

The inadequate rating means it has been ordered to improve ahead of further checks.