BOWERHILL Pre-school is compromising children’s safety, putting their health at risk and not meeting legal requirements, according to a report by Ofsted.

The nursery, run by a committee of parents, has received a rating of inadequate in all areas reviewed during a visit by inspector Tracey Bartholomew last month, the lowest rating Ofsted can give.

Ms Bartholomew said it had one strength, noting: “Partnerships with parents are reasonably successful and feedback given in questionnaires and discussions with parents shows they are happy with the care and service the pre-school provides.”

She goes on to state that the 37 youngsters are not encouraged to talk and staff ‘show little interest in what children have to say’.

The children aged two to five are also receiving a poor standard of teaching which means they do not have the skills required to progress to school.

The report says: “The quality of teaching is inadequate and, as a result, children make insufficient progress. Staff have a poor knowledge of the ways children learn and fail to assess their progress effectively.”

The inspector also found youngsters with learning difficulties are not taken into account when activities are planned and none of the children are receiving emotional support to develop their confidence and self-esteem.

The report adds: “Staff fail to support children in developing relationships with others. They do not sort out conflict and unfriendliness presented by some children as they play. This has a negative impact on children’s emotional development and behaviour.

“Children’s health and well-being are compromised. Children who are visibly unwell are not comforted appropriately and staff take too long to respond to their needs, leading to unnecessary distress.”

This new report comes four years after the pre-school, based at Bowerhill Primary School in Halifax Road, received a ‘good’ rating in their previous inspection.

Ofsted has given the nursery a list of 10 improvements and changes they must implement to meet essential requirements.

A spokesman for the nursery declined to comment on the report which can be found in full here