'Inadequate' nature nursery closes its doors

The nursery closed its doors on 29 August following the publication of two critical reports

A "nature nursery" in Sheffield has shut following the publication of two reports in six months by the education watchdog which rated it as "inadequate" in all areas.

At an inspection in January, Middlewood Nature Nursery at Winn Gardens had shown a "recurrence of weaknesses", one Ofsted report stated, while an inspection in July found "significantly poor leadership", "extremely poor hygiene levels" and repeated failures to meet legal requirements.

Children were found to have engaged in "high-risk activities" like tree-climbing without any supervision, while floors, walls, doors and toys were "visibly dirty", inspectors said.

Operator Forest School Kindergartens has been approached for comment.

On its website, the company described itself as a "child-centred, collaborative and investigative" provider, adding that children aged one to four attending Middlewood Nature Nursery would spend at least two hours a day in the nearby Beeley Woods.

According to Ofsted inspectors, hot radiators and pipes were found to have been accessible in the nursery's baby room, while teaching quality had been "weak" for some children.

However, inspectors also found that children were "at ease with staff", "happy on arrival and eager to enter their nursery room".

Children with special educational needs or disabilities progressed well because of support from staff, one report said.

'Unfair assessment'

An online petition started by parents, in response to the risk of the nursery closing earlier this year, received more than 1,400 signatures.

A statement alongside the petition said the report from Ofsted was not accurate and did not "reflect the true quality of care provided".

It said: "The inspection was not carried out appropriately for a forest school setting, with criteria applied that are more suited to standard indoor nurseries."

This led to an "unfair and unbalanced assessment", the petition added.

According to Sheffield City Council, Forest School Kindergartens had made its decision to close the nursery on 29 August before the publication of the second Ofsted report.

Councillor Dawn Dale, head of education, said the authority - which was not connected to Ofsted - had been working closely with the nursery to manage the closure.

Dale said: "Our priority has been to ensure children attending the setting continue to be well cared for, have access to learning and remain safe while at nursery."

The council emphasised it had not cut the nursery's early years funding after the inadequate rating, despite that being a statutory requirement after such a rating.

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