CHILDREN are at risk of harm at a Pershore pre-school, according to a damning Ofsted inspection.

Stepping Stones Day Nursery, based in the Civic Centre on Queen Elizabeth Drive, was given an inadequate rating across all aspects of education. 

The report said the nursery, which deals with children aged three months to four years, does not supervise the children at all times and "safeguarding arrangements were not effective".

It added staff did not identify and minimise potential hazards to help to ensure children's safety - putting children at risk of harm.

A nursery spokesman said it had sorted out the problems within a week of the inspection and Ofsted was satisfied on a return visit but no follow up report has been published.

The report mentioned how fire exits were not free from obstructions and there were significant weaknesses in leadership and management.

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The report said: "Children's safety is not assured because the risk assessment process is not effective.

"The manager and staff do not follow robust procedures to identify and minimise potential hazards in order to protect children from harm.

"Staff do not deploy themselves appropriately to ensure that children are supervised at all times.

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"Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) do not receive the support they need to enable them to make the progress they are capable of."

The nursery was given an inadequate rating for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

The nursery, which Monarchs Childcare Ltd runs, looks after an estimated 35 children.

The report was published on the Ofsted website after inspectors visited the nursery in April.

The report included how leaders need to provide sufficient and up-to-date training for their staff.

The report added: "Staff do not identify and minimise potential hazards to help to ensure children's safety. This puts children at risk of harm.

"They do not deploy themselves appropriately to ensure that they supervise children at all times, including when they are asleep. 

"However, staff demonstrate a suitable knowledge of the possible indicators that may suggest a child is at risk of abuse or neglect.

"They know how to report any concerns they may have about a child's welfare.

"Leaders have robust recruitment procedures in place to help to deem staff suitable to work with children."

A spokesperson for Stepping Stones Day Nursery said: "Obviously, we are unhappy with the outcome of the inspection.

"The actions on the report were completed in the first week and were signed off by Ofsted in there repeat visit.

"Since the inspection we have had company directors onsite daily and have recruited a highly qualified staff team to ensure the highest possible care and early year education for our children."