A nursery has been rated “inadequate” after an inspector saw babies hurting themselves by falling from furniture and a large rocking horse.
The £15,400-a-year Nursery Montessori in Muswell Hill placed children at risk by allowing them to be supervised by inadequately qualified staff who had no security clearance, according to an Ofsted report.
Some staff “continually raise their voices”, and “too hot” babies were stripped to their vests and cooled with water as staff had no way of preventing temperatures soaring.
Nursery owner Eleanor Sweby, 70, who also runs a poorly rated nursery in Highgate, was today warned she faced prosecution after failing to make sufficient improvements following the inspection in June. Further inspections are planned by Ofsted.
Muswell Hill councillor Gail Engert, leader of the Lib-Dem group on Haringey council, said: “I am shocked by this report which lists a number of concerns about the nursery not protecting children and breaching data protection rules. It is unacceptable that the nursery appears to have been failing to safeguard children. Swift action needs to be taken to ensure the nursery is improved, that children are safe.”
The report by Ofsted inspector Siobhan O’Callaghan said staff turnover was high, workers did not always interact positively with the 42 children aged three months to three years, and that “not all staff are good role models”.
She wrote: “During the inspection, babies were observed continually climbing on a small sofa and rocking horse; they fell and hurt their knees.”
Children were not taught how to serve their own food or pour their own drinks, and reasonable questions were blocked with an order of: “Wait.”
There was a lack of preparation for younger children and no partnership-working with parents.
Managers breached “safeguarding and welfare” rules for early-years care and “do not ensure robust recruitment and vetting procedures are adhered to”.
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The nursery in Highgate was rated inadequate in January last year. This was upgraded to “requires improvement” after a reinspection. It is now thought to be closed for “refurbishment”.
Mrs Sweby declined to comment to the Standard today.
