Watchdog raises concerns over Northampton nursery as rating slips to 'requires improvement'

During a one-day inspection at Abington Park Day Nursery in Wellingborough Road, Ofsted pinpointed that the quality of the teaching staff varies across the nursery.

The report says: 'Staff do not consistently implement agreed behaviour management strategies. Children are not clear about what is expected of them, and sometimes demonstrate lower levels of self-control and cooperation that are appropriate for their age'.

The report continues: 'Staff do not always give a sufficient consideration to children's next steps in learning. They do not consistently reshape or extend activities to effectively promote children's good progress.'

However, a spokeswoman for the nursery said she believes the standards have not fallen since they were last rated as 'good' in 2014.

She said: "We can reassure our families and the children in our care that we are committed to raising and maintaining the standards that we strive to achieve and we are very disappointed with the outcome.

"We believe that that the standard of the setting has not diminished since our last inspection and that high quality early years education is still very much at the core of what we do."

The findings of the report were published on December 12 following the inspection on November 20.

However, the watchdog went on to note in the report that the nursery has made some strengths.

The report says: 'Children form strong bonds with their key person. Settling-in arrangements and transitions from one room to the next are tailored to meet children's individual needs. Children are happy and settled.

'Parents comment positivley about the nursery and staff. They are well informed about their child's progress. They receive daily feedback and make effective use of the onlince learning records to see their children's progress.'