Ofsted found that nursery staff did not always notice and remove potential hazards
A nursery near Cambridgeshire will close after being told it “needs attention” by Ofsted. A recent inspection found that staff at Unity Stars, on Chalkstone Way in Haverhill, did not always notice and remove potential hazards.
The report, published on Tuesday, June 2, rated the nursery as “needs attention” in all areas assessed. The report states that there are “inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and staff’s interactions throughout the nursery”.
Inspectors praised that children are greeted at the door by “warm and nurturing staff”. It added: “Children play cooperatively and make friendships with their peers. They look forward to playing outdoors. Children delight in tipping water onto the concrete and splashing in puddles, giggling as they make patterns on the floor.”
A spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership, which Unity Stars is a part of, said: “The Ofsted inspection highlighted many positive aspects of our nursery, particularly our strong safeguarding culture. Inspectors recognised that children feel safe, secure and well cared for.
“They also noted the warm, nurturing relationships between staff and children, with many children confidently seeking comfort and support from familiar adults. We are especially proud that our settling-in processes and close partnerships with parents were praised, helping children to feel happy and confident when they attend.”
The inspectors found that on occasion, “staff are not always noticing and removing potential hazards posed to children swiftly enough”. The report adds: “This is particularly apparent at times of transition. For example, when children prepare to move outdoors to play, there is a lack of embedded and well-structured routines.”
Leaders have risk assessments in place for each room and staff can explain these, the inspection found. “However, leaders are not monitoring staff’s practice closely enough to ensure staff are continuously alert to and managing potential risks effectively,” the report states.
In an example, Ofsted said that towels around the base of the water tray are not replaced swiftly enough, when they are sodden. This means at times, the floor becomes slippery and “increases the risk of children or staff slipping”.
The spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership said that “as part of the inspection, Ofsted identified some areas where we can improve further” and have since welcomed this feedback and “implemented changes as a result”.
The spokesperson continued: “The report also highlighted that children enjoy their time at the nursery. They benefit from healthy meals, develop friendships and engage in a wide range of play experiences, particularly outdoors. It was also encouraging to see recognition of children’s growing independence and their development in areas such as physical skills and early mathematics.”
Since the inspection, the partnership, of which Unity Stars is a part of, said that they have “continued to experience difficulty in recruiting and retaining sufficient and adequately qualified staff at Chalkstone Way”. As a result, Unity Stars has taken the “difficult decision to wind-down this setting”, with its final day of operation being July 17, 2026.
The spokesperson added: “We are working with families to find suitable alternative provision, including at our flourishing Norton Road setting. In making this decision, we have been clear that the children’s safety and educational progress must be our greatest considerations.
“Without certainty that stable and high-quality staffing could be sustained, we decided that winding-down the setting at Chalkstone Way was the right thing to do.”
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