Bright Start nursery is told it must improve by Ofsted

The Bright Start nursery in North Road, Brighton, was given the second lowest grade out of four used by inspectors from the independent watchdog.

Inspectors criticised the staff’s monitoring of children’s progress and said some younger children do not always have a safe place to sleep.

They told the nursery it “requires improvement” in all four criteria used to rate facilities and teaching in nurseries.

It said: “Managers and staff have only recently begun to closely monitor the progress of children over time.

“They do not yet consistently identify gaps in learning and any differences between the progress of groups of children as quickly as possible to help target teaching and ensure all children make the best possible progress.

“Younger children do not always have a safe, restful space to sleep, as their cots are positioned in areas where other children continue to play.”

In a 2018 inspection, the Brighton and Hove City Council nursery had been given an “inadequate” grade, the lowest possible issued by Ofsted.

It had previously been given a “good” rating

At the time, it was criticised for not having enough staff and having a weak relationship with parents.

Council officials said that they were aware of the issues facing the nursery, which is based in Barrack Yard, near the Prince Regent Swimming Pool.

Following a number of improvements prior to the March inspection, this grade was upgraded to “requires improvement”.

The report praised “prompt action” in addressing previous issues and giving “well-planned” support for children with special needs.

It also said staff have successfully improved how they work with parents and they now keep parents informed through weekly newsletters that include ideas for home.

They are also providing parents with more information about their child’s development.

The report says that to improve further, the nursery must improve planning of the daily routine, review the sleeping arrangement for younger children and share information about day-to-day incidents relating to children’s wellbeing.

It says it must also monitor children’s progress over time more closely so that any gaps in learning or teaching are

promptly identified and addressed.

A council spokesman said: “We have made good progress at Bright Start in the relatively short space of time between the inspection in December and the recent one in March.

“We’re pleased that Ofsted has recognised this progress, and acknowledged our commitment to making further improvements.

“Their inspector has noted the positive changes we have made in our provision, and praised our support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

“Ofsted’s findings are very much in line with our own

analysis of Bright Start’s current strengths and areas for improvement.

“We are working hard to get back to a ‘good’ Ofsted rating at our next inspection.”