By Bridie Adams

A HEREFORD nursery has been awarded a ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted after being criticised for ‘Inadequate’ leadership and management last year.

Hunderton Neighbourhood Nursery and Kids Club in Hereford has received positive feedback in all areas in its latest inspection by the national regulator, a drastic turnaround from its previous inspection.

The nursery received praise by the inspectors for the curriculum, range of activities and children’s behaviour.

Inspectors Rebecca Johnson and James Norman reported: “Parents speak highly of the care and learning their children receive. They say that the manager and staff go above and beyond”.

The report also praised staff for their work with children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Last time Ofsted visited the nursery, inspector Sophie Van Harten was concerned that children’s safety and wellbeing were compromised because of ineffective safeguarding arrangements.

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She reported: “The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Leaders have not adequately considered the risks of children going to the bathroom by themselves or getting changed themselves unsupervised. In addition, not all staff understand their responsibilities to maintain appropriate staffing levels. As a result, babies are not always supervised.”

She also highlighted weaknesses in staff knowledge on child protection matters such as abuse, radicalisation and female genital mutilation.

The ‘Inadequate' rating followed a complaint that had been made and investigated in 2021 regarding children’s safety.

In the latest inspection, however, Ofsted concluded that safeguarding had improved.

The new report said: “Children’s safety is given high priority. All staff have attended safeguarding training and the manager checks their safeguarding knowledge. Staff know who to report concerns to, including if they are concerned about a member of staff.”

The nursery is responsible for 112 children, from babies up to 11 years old.

The Hereford Times has contacted Hunderton Neighbourhood Nursery and Kids Club for comment.