Inspected in September, this is the first time in its history that the award winning centre in Corby, Northamptonshire has received a rating of less than Outstanding by the inspectorate.
Ofsted found Pen Green Children’s Centre to be Inadequate in all four areas. Inspectors noted how children were not being kept safe, putting objects such as ‘soil and a pom-pom’ in their mouths. Managers of the setting said they are appealing the outcome.
The setting’s maintained nursery school continues to hold its Outstanding grade after being inspected separately in March.
The news of the centre’s inadequate grade comes months after North Northamptonshire Council announced in February it is to halve the centre’s budget. It is the second time in the space of a year that it has come under threat. Last year, the council threatened to withdraw the centre’s funding, but following a campaign, it backed down at the 11th hour.
Pen Green Children’s Centre’s latest Ofsted report states that the provider does ‘not keep children safe as staff do not consider all risks.’ It says that ‘children walk and run with objects in their mouth such as food and a pen’, and ‘staff do not notice or act swiftly enough when children adopt unsafe play.’
It also states that children ‘put objects such as soil and a pom-pom in their mouths.’
The report goes on to highlight how some children do not have ‘quality learning experiences’ as temporary bank staff are ‘not given enough information about the children’.
The inspector did find however that ‘children have secure relationships with staff’, who ‘provide reassurance when children are nervous of visitors’, and comfort them with hugs ‘when needed.’
Ofsted is due to re-inspect the setting in the New Year.
Pen Green runs a nursery school, provides early years places, parent and child groups and special educational needs support, is a research and development base and runs a teaching school from its site.
The chair of governors, Adam Cooper, said, 'This has been a huge shock and devastating for the wonderful staff.
'The conduct of the inspectors, their lack of understanding of early years, and unwillingness to understand the context of our children and the relationship with family workers, has been both frustrating and stressful for everyone at the centre.
'This is not the Ofsted we would wish for or expect.'
North Northamptonshire Council has said it will work with Pen Green to ensure any improvements are implemented.