Preschools in Portsmouth and Hampshire: Sweetheart Preschool on Hayling Island receives inadequate Ofsted rating

Sweethearts Preschool, located in Elim Church, Hayling Island, has been described as inadequate in its most recent Ofsted report which took place on July 14.

The inspection found that the staff do not always met the needs of the children with care and an example of this is that the staff check children’s nappies from behind and they do not state that they are going to do so. The report said that it does “not promote children's dignity or meet their need for privacy.”

The report said: “Managers do not ensure that all policies and procedures are effective in keeping children safe from potential harm. This includes responding appropriately to child welfare concerns and supporting children to keep themselves safe during their play. The breaches to the safeguarding and welfare requirements compromise children's safety.

“Staff do not meet children's care needs with sensitivity. For example, staff approach children from behind to check their nappies. Staff do not communicate

before doing so, nor do they consider the presence of other children. This does not promote children's dignity or meet their need for privacy.”

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The inspector found that “learning is often incidental” and that younger children do not have the access to activities that capture their interest which results in them spending a lot of their time “wandering aimlessly around the setting”.

The report added: “Managers do not have a secure understanding of what constitutes good-quality teaching. They fail to identify potential areas for development when observing staff practice.

"Children do not have access to a curriculum that is ambitious, well sequenced and meets their individual learning needs. This is because staff focus too heavily on following children's interests, rather than incorporating what children need to learn next.”

The inspection found that the safe guarding measures are not effective and that leaders do not always have the best understanding of how to keep children safe.

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the recent Ofsted report on Sweethearts, a private pre-school in Hayling Island. An ‘inadequate’ rating by Ofsted is clearly cause for concern, and we are therefore supporting the nursery to take immediate action to address the areas identified by the inspectors, to ensure children receive safe, good quality care.

"Clear information on the inspection outcome and guidance on who to contact if parents and carers have further questions or concerns have been provided by Sweethearts. Parents and carers will be kept informed of progress as improvements are made.”

The finding of the preschool inadequate means that the staff will have until later this year to make improvements.

To read the inspection, click the link.