A NURSERY has been rated inadequate after an inspector found faeces on the walls and mould on the ceilings.

BarBar Nursery Kingsway in Quedgeley was assessed by Ofsted on Wednesday, January 11, inspector Victoria Nicolson found that children’s health and well-being were at significant risk.

She also found stagnant water in the garden where the children play and judged the resources and equipment to be unhygienic.

The manager of BarBar Nursery in Quedgeley said “no comment” when the SNJ contacted them for comment and hung up.

In her report, the inspector wrote: “The providers do not ensure all hazards to children on the premises are identified and eliminated. Hazards include dirty resources and equipment, and unsanitary toilet areas that children regularly use.

“Some staff ignore challenging behaviour and do not help children to understand how their actions affect their care and learning experiences and those of other children.

“Children's safety is compromised because staff do not meet their care and learning needs at all times.

“The significant weaknesses in safeguarding children and promoting their welfare mean that staff cannot ensure each child's well-being.

“Children do not learn in a safe environment and are not engaged or motivated to learn.

BarBar in Kingsway was assessed through four categories: effectiveness of the leadership and management; quality of teaching, learning and assessment; personal development, behaviour and welfare and outcomes for children – all of which were ranked inadequate.

The nursery, which caters for children up to age eight and has 120 on roll, has been issued a Welfare Requirements Notice by Ofsted which includes the following requirements.

Staff must ensure they take all necessary steps to minimise any risk to children’s health and safety indoors and outdoors, make sure children are appropriately supervised and manage children’s behaviour consistently.

It is an offence for a person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a welfare requirements notice, failure to comply may result in a prosecution.

While the inspector had found that parents were happy with the support their kids received as they move between rooms, she felt that staff had minimal interactions with the children, did not inspire them to learn and ignored challenging behaviour.

Ofsted’s inspection was prompted by a complaint they received on Wednesday, January 4 that raised concerns about the adult-to-child ratios.

The inspector said: “Staff do not follow the adult-to-child ratio requirements adequately, they leave rooms and do not take into account the number of children and staff that they are leaving behind to ensure there are sufficient staff deployed to meet children's needs.”

BarBar is partnered with two Stroud nurseries, one at The Rosary School in Beeches Green and the other at the Old Tennis Pavilion in Stratford Park, both of which were rated good in 2015.