TIGERS at Swindon nursery has blamed challenges caused by the Covid pandemic after it was told by Ofsted it has to improve.

A previous inspection of the Westlea facility in 2017 rated it good but this time round inspectors have given staff an August 24 deadline to reach the required standard.

The nursery has been told it must “ensure staff have the required knowledge and skills to deliver a consistently high-quality programme for communication and language.”

It also has to make sure “staff plan consistently to help children’s progression through the areas of learning, to enable them make the best possible progress.”

And it has been instructed to “ensure that targets and plans for all children, including those receiving additional funding, are shared with all key staff so that they are consistently implemented and children gain the skills they need in readiness for school.”

But it won praise for effective safeguarding. The report noted staff “have a good knowledge of child protection and wider safeguarding issues. They know the procedures to follow if concerned about a child’s welfare or the behaviour of a colleague.

“Staff know they can go to external agencies if their concerns are not addressed internally. Staff and leaders monitor those children who are vulnerable and check on their well-being.

“Children learn how to stay safe in the nursery. Staff create a safe environment and have put extra health and safety procedures in place due to COVID-19.”

The nursery is unhappy with the rating. In a statement it said it was disappointed and disagreed with the assessment.

“We feel very strongly that the pandemic has presented huge challenges for the new staff team at Swindon and we have had to delay some of our normal procedures and staff training events due to the restrictions on mixing.

“We have requested to be re-inspected as early as possible and feel confident our assessment will be more reflective on the standards of the nursery.

“The inspector has acknowledged lots of good practice at the nursery including the children are safe and secure, staff respond well to the children, children are motivated to learn, they behave well, take turns, leaders have action plans in place and are devising training plans for staff, staff models and help children learn new skills and staff have a good knowledge of child protection and wider safeguarding issues.”