Muddy Boots in Stamford Bridge rated inadequate by Ofsted

Muddy Boots Stamford Bridge, located in Buttercrambe Road, was reassessed by the watchdog on July 25 of this year where it received ‘good’ ratings for quality of education and behaviour and attitudes categories, but inadequate in personal development and leadership and management.

Despite this, the nursery said it felt the inspection was ‘broadly very positive’ and said it felt prepared for Ofsted to return for a reinspection.

RECOMMENDED READING:

• 'You couldn’t do any better' - North Yorkshire care home rated by watchdog
• Yorkshire's reservoir levels increase again - but restrictions still in place

In the report, inspector Amy Whiting said the provision at Muddy Boots was "inadequate" and that the "provider has failed to ensure areas in which children play are safe and secure".

The report highlighted several safety concerns, including gaps in the fence, an exposed nail, and standing water in old car tyres - adding that cleaning products were also found to be stored within children's reach in the bathroom.

Despite these concerns, inspectors also found that "children have formed good relationships with caring and professional staff" and that “babies are settled and approach staff for cuddles".

Staff are also said to have “high expectations for children's behaviour and act as positive role models” with the quality of education deemed “good," with a "clear curriculum that is well sequenced as children move through the nursery."

The report also praised the nursery's support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, stating that "all children make good progress and are well prepared for school."

However, there were concerns about the nursery's risk assessment procedures, stating that "hazards identified are not acted upon swiftly enough to minimise the risk in a timely enough manner."

It noted that "children can access materials that are intended for messy and sensory play, such as bags of dried pasta and hair gel," which are "not appropriate for their age, without adult supervision."

The report also highlighted issues with mealtimes, stating that "meals are served on a rolling basis" and that "by the second and third sitting, food is cold” – adding that "the organisation of mealtimes means that they are not a social occasion for all children."

The report concluded that "there is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first."

Marketing manager at Muddy Boots, Matthew Allton, explained that the reinspection was triggered by a company restructure and that it was ‘purely internal’, with the directors, senior management and staff teams all remaining the same as the previous year.

He said: “The inspection itself was broadly very positive, with Ofsted highlighting the strength of our curriculum, the quality of relationships, and the professionalism and knowledge of our team.

“The issues identified on the day were facilities-based rather than reflective of care or teaching - for example, a few minor maintenance points and environmental checks that were rectified immediately during the visit.

“These didn’t relate to staff performance or children’s experiences, but as they technically fell under “safety and risk assessment,” they affected the overall outcome.

“Since then, we’ve implemented additional checks and reviews to further strengthen what was already a robust system.

"Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure every detail meets the highest standard, and we’re confident that the nursery is now stronger than ever.”

Matt also thanked the parents, who had been “incredibly supportive and encouraging throughout” and said that the nursery felt “extremely confident and optimistic” ahead of their next inspection.

He added: “The team is exceptional, the children are thriving, and we’re genuinely looking forward to demonstrating to Ofsted the outstanding quality that our families experience every single day.

“In short, our focus remains exactly where it should be - on providing exceptional care, education, and experiences for our children and families, while continuing to grow and improve as we move forward."