An Oldham nursery has been told to improve by the education watchdog which has downgraded its rating. 

Medlock Day Nursery, on Ashton Road, Bardsley, has been urged to make changes in an Ofsted inspection report published on September 8.

The nursery was previously rated ‘good’ after an inspection in February 2022, but has since been downgraded to ‘requires improvement’ after a ‘period of turbulence’, according to the report.

Possible Ofsted ratings are: outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate.

In August, an Oldham mum accused the nursery of leaving her son in a minivan last year. 

Safeguarding at the nursery was said to be ‘effective’ in this latest report, with children said to be safe at the nursery.

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Ofsted inspector Tricia Graham carried out the inspection on June 26– the nursery’s first full inspection since receiving notices about two ‘significant incidents’, published on the Ofsted website in April and October 2022.

The report said the ‘quality of provision has declined since the previous inspection’, resulting in inconsistencies.  

The curriculum was said to be ‘planned well’ for some children, but others were said to be ‘poorly planned’, leading to some children not engaging well enough.

Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, known as SEND, was also said to be lacking, meaning some children did not achieve as well as they could.

The report did have several positive things to say, however, adding: "Despite weaknesses, children are mostly happy and enjoy their time at the nursery.

"Children greet staff with a smile, and they are eager to play with their friends."

The nursery was also praised for supporting children’s communication and language as a ‘key priority’, with babies said to make lots of sounds and copy actions when staff read them books.

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Changes made by the owner/manager of the nursery were also said to be having a positive impact on staff morale, creating a calmness after a ‘period of turbulence’ at the nursery.

Managers were told they had not identified gaps in how the curriculum is delivered, with deployment of staff not maximising children’s care and learning needs.

Staff caring for babies, however, were said to be highly experienced and skilled, with babies eager to learn.

All staff were praised for being kind and caring towards children, and helping children feel ‘settled and secure’.

The report concluded by telling the nursery to improve the organisation and deployment of staff, as well as to ensure its curriculum is implemented consistently, and to improve communication between the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and staff so they know and understand plans in place to support children with SEND.

Medlock Day Nursery did not respond to a request for comment.

Read the full report on the Ofsted website.