Nursery loses registration due to '˜serious concerns'

Silver Birches in Fulwood was judged to be “inadequate” in all areas when the Government regulator assessed the way it cared for children up to the age of five.

The nursery, which can accommodate 99 chidren in a converted detached house in Longsands Lane, has revealed it is taking legal advice.

“We are not saying anything at the moment until we have spoken to our solicitors,” said a spokesman. “But we are still open.”

Ofsted withdrew the nursery’s early years registration following a visit which raised concerns over its leadership and management, the quality of its teaching and learning and the personal development, behaviour and outcomes for its children.

Staff deployment, said the inspectors, had been “chaotic.” Security at the nursery was “poor,” allowing free and unrestricted entry into the premises.

Staff did not have sufficient understanding about the signs of abuse, said the inspection report. And the quality of teaching was “poor.”

On the plus side the inspectors found parents spoke positively about the staff and the children were developing an understanding about the need to wash their hands before eating.

An Ofsted spokesman told the Evening Post: “We cancelled this early years setting’s registration late last year because we had serious concerns about the way it had been run following an inspection in which we judged it to be inadequate.

“The owner lodged an appeal, but subsequently withdrew – which means that the registration is cancelled.”