A NURSERY has been graded ‘requires improvement’ by Ofsted after it failed to obtain a placement student’s criminal record check.

The Meadows Nursery in Mulberry Tree Hill, Droitwich, was found to be in breach of its legal requirements during a visit by the regulator in January.

Inspectors discovered that the procedure for the induction of students did not always ensure that disclosure and barring service (DBS) check information was obtained.

But the risk to children was described as “minimal” while the nursery was praised for providing “excellent” staff and “highly stimulating” educational programmes.

Sue Foster, owner and manager of the nursery, said: “We were gutted because we have always been rated outstanding in the past.

“We know that it is a requirement of the college for the student to have a DBS check and usually student information is collected and recorded – we are very vigilant.

“Students never have unsupervised contact with children and it is very easy for us to keep a close eye on them.”

She added that the downgrading was a result of a “questionable” complaint and that the nursery was appealing Ofsted’s decision.

The inspection was prompted after Ofsted received a complaint about the nursery on Monday, January 5, and the report was published on Wednesday, February 18.

Inspectors wrote: “The procedure for the induction of students does not always ensure that disclosure and barring service check information is obtained.

“This breaches requirements.

“However the risk to children is minimal because students are supervised by staff at all times. Furthermore, staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to safeguard children. They are clear how they would respond if they suspected that children were at risk from harm.”

Inspectors graded the nursery as ‘outstanding’ at meeting the needs of children and praised the centre for its “enthusiastic and committed” staff.

Children are described as “very happy and settled” at the site while “staff deployment is excellent because they work together to ensure that every opportunity to promote learning is maximised”.

The inspectors also state that “although effective systems to guarantee the suitability of students are not yet robust, other aspects with regards to children’s welfare and safety are given high regard”.

Mrs Foster added that the nursery had been recently visited by Liz Elsom, an early years consultant who was formerly responsible for early years policy at Ofsted, and received high praise.

The visit was part of the English champions project run by the National Day Nurseries Association.

Liz Elsom said about The Meadows Nursery: “The quality of all aspects of communication, language and literacy are among the best seen with confident and articulate children engaging well.

“Even those with less well developed speech were able to share their thoughts individually and in a group.”