Children at failing Wigan nursery "didn’t always have access to drinking water" during Ofsted visit

Jumping Jacks Private Day Nursery, registered as a nursery in 2022, has been criticised in a recent Ofsted report.

Inspectors deemed the facility to be “inadequate” in all areas.

Bosses at the Ullswater Road in Golborne said a new leadership team is in place, with improvements being made.

Ofsted officials raised concerns about children being at risk of choking; trip hazards; and staff supervision being inadequate.

“Children’s health is not consistently promoted,” the report read.

“Children learn about the importance of washing their hands. They engage in physical experiences, such as movement and music.

“However, not all children have access to water throughout the day.

“For instance, babies are unable to access water freely. Some babies are yet to be able to verbally communicate when they need a drink.

“On the day of the inspection, children’s water cups were taken away after lunch, leaving children with no access to fresh drinking water.

“This has an impact on children’s health.”

The report adds: “Children’s wellbeing and safety are compromised. The manager has not ensured that staff are aware of new risk assessments which have been put into place.

“Some staff fail to demonstrate an understanding of their role and responsibility to identify risks to keep children safe. This results in children being at risk of harm.”

The report highlights examples of poor supervision of children, with youngsters picking items up off the floor and putting them in their mouths; kids walking around with food in their mouths; and sand on the floor leading to slips and falls.

“Staff do not identify this as a risk to children’s safety,” inspectors added.

Staff at the nursery, which has 70 children aged four and under on its books, did show good knowledge of child protection procedures, Ofsted said.

This knowledge ‘helps staff take appropriate action’ if they have a concern about a child’s welfare.

Staff were also praised for creating close bonds with the children.

“We can confirm that the nursery had newly been reregistered and complaints were made to Ofsted prior to the new ownership,” the nursery said in a statement.

“Since the inspection the nursery is under new management and a restructure of the staffing team has taken place.

“The new management team are working closely with Wigan Council and Ofsted at this time and have an agreed and robust recovery plan in place to ensure better outcomes for children and families. We can assure that all children do now, and did at the time of inspection, have access to fresh drinking water.

“However, due to hygiene procedures all drinking vessels of sleeping children are taken to the kitchen to be thoroughly cleaned, they are refilled and returned for when children wake. This was discussed with Ofsted.

“We understand that families may be unhappy about a pricing restructure however nurseries across the country are at risk of closing due to a staff recruitment and retention crisis and as a business we are doing all we can to ensure stability and continuity of care going forward.

“New prices are in line with other local settings and local average costs of childcare.”