Ofsted report says Gosport pre-school fails to ensure safety of its children

Little Explorers Nursery and Pre-School Ltd, in Gosport, has been rated ‘inadequate’ after Ofsted visited.

It had been rated ‘good’ in its last inspection in 2012.

The report lists six key findings where provision was found to be inadequate.

One said that ‘the provider does not ensure that staff have a secure knowledge of how to safeguard children’, with another stating that ‘the provider does not ensure that children are not exposed to hazards’.

It then goes on to say ‘assessments of children’s progress are ineffective and staff do not complete written progress checks when children are two years old’.

But Ofsted did also report that ‘children are happy playing with their friends and make some choices in their play’.

Other areas where the nursery was rated inadequate was in the effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare as well as the outcomes for children.

However, nursery bosses have insisted that they have taken the report on board and are making significant changes.

A spokesperson from Little Explorers said: ‘We acknowledge the report and its findings and have worked hard to correct the points that have been raised.

‘The management and staff of Little Explorers would like to thank parents for their continued support.

‘Our centre remains popular with both parents and children alike and we would like to reassure them that we continue to work to ensure the best outcomes for all of the children we look after.’

Ofsted has since returned to Little Explorers, in Heritage Business Park, and found that it had reviewed its safeguarding policies and provided additional training.

Councillor Peter Edgar, executive member of education for Hampshire County Council, said it is providing supportive action to Little Explorers and that positive measures have been taken.

The nursery employs 34 members of staff and has 197 children on its roll.