Nursery Victory in Ofsted Challenge
News release
10th January 2014
The Old Station Nursery Group is celebrating after successfully arguing for the educational inspectorate Ofsted to reverse a grading decision at its Innsworth setting.
The nursery had been rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted since opening in September 2010, but was downgraded to ‘satisfactory’ in May 2013.
Following two appeals, Managing Director of The Old Station Nursery Group, Sarah Steel, has now received an apology from Ofsted that the inspection had not been “thorough” and had the original grade reinstated – which is now reflected online.
This includes changing a comment that babies receive ‘appropriate support’ to ‘strong support’, adding that the setting has ‘well established key person arrangements’ – the term used to describe direct care offered to children – and clarifying that the management team has effective evaluation practices for staff development.
Sarah Steel, Managing Director of the group, says the rating reversal is a welcome relief. “This is a huge victory, not just for us, but for nursery providers everywhere,” said Sarah.
“That said, I am disappointed that it has taken this long for Ofsted to listen to our concerns and fully review the report. It was frustrating for me, and staff at the setting to be listed as only ‘satisfactory’ for seven months.
“It’s a battle that the nursery sector goes through time after time, and something many of my colleagues throughout the UK will be familiar with. As a sector we must make our voice heard about the increasing unfairness in the Ofsted process and the total lack of transparency.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The full Ofsted report can be viewed here.
- The Innsworth setting is based at the Imjin Barracks and opened in September 2010.
- Sarah Steel set up The Old Station Nursery in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, in 2002 when she left the army and was unable to find suitable childcare for her two children
- The Old Station Nursery group has 10 settings in total in Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire and Buckinghamshire
Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney
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