Scallywags Day Nursery Bocking rated inadequate by Ofsted

Scallywags Day Nursery, in Church Street, Bocking, was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, following the nursery’s most recent inspection.

The nursery was rated inadequate in all areas - for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The report says the nursery has a "weakness" in leadership and management but does note “children form close bonds with staff who are familiar to them".

Nursery - Scallywags Day Nursery staff and pupils at an event in 2017 (Image: N/A)

It also says that “staff respond to babies’ emotional needs well, offering them cuddles, comfort and reassurance when needed”.

Since its last inspection in 2018 when the organisation was rated ‘good’, the nursery has taken “some steps" to address the cleanliness of the nursery in the areas where children sit an play.

But the report says: “Children do not receive the level of education to which they are entitled.

“Younger children's individual needs are not met and children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, are not sufficiently supported to move on to the next stage in their learning.”

Ofsted inspector Shelly McDougall said the has cleaning routines are in place, but they are not effective in promoting children’s good health and wellbeing.

It said some staff had not been provided with suitable bins in their rooms to dispose of used nappies, meaning they were left on the floor in reach of children.

Signage - a Google street view image of the nursery's sign (Image: Google Maps)

Scallywags founder Donna Dunmore said she is committed to resolving the issues outlined in the report.

She said: "Life has been pretty tough for my husband and myself recently.

"This was after my husband had a serious stroke.

"We have received a good rating for the past 25 years and we were both shocked, devastated and saddened to receive the assessment by the Ofsted inspector concerned. 

"We have used the inspection and the report as a developmental and motivation tool and have been extremely busy since the inspection addressing the issues raised in the report.

"We have received incredible support and reactions, our parents are the ones that see on a daily basis what really goes on when we care for their most precious ones.

"Their reactions have given us the courage and determination to keep going and doing what we are passionate about.

"We will not let them down."