In September 2005, Ofsted performed 45 on-the-spot inspections in the first hour of a nursery opening. It found that more than a third of the nurseries did not plan sufficiently for the start of the day or have enough staff in place to support children on their arrival.
Dorian Bradley, deputy director, early years, revealed the findings of Early doors: experiences for children in daycare during the first hour of the day at the Future of Early Years Inspections conference in London last week.
The 'weaknesses' ranged from inadequate staff:child ratios to no manager or deputy being present or children being left for too long without adult attention while staff prepared breakfast or attended to other children's needs.
Over half of the nurseries did not provide adequate activities at the start of the day. Children were present for more than an hour or even two hours before the 'normal' nursery day began.
The report says although the majority of nurseries offer adequate care during the first hour of the day, the care is likely to be of 'poorer quality than during the core hours', with a lack of planning and organisation.
NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said she agreed with Ofsted's recommendations, but increasing adult: child ratios was not a viable option for many nurseries.
'For such a change to be implemented, there would need to be increased Government investment direct to nurseries, or the larger staff costs would need to be reflected in higher fees for parents.'