Old Moat Childcare in Withington has closed following a damning Ofsted report that found children were left to cry without comfort and staff were not properly vetted for suitability to work with children. The watchdog judged that safeguarding standards were “not met” and every area of provision required “urgent improvement”.
Ofsted Findings: Safeguarding and Recruitment Failures
According to the report, leaders failed to create “an open and positive culture around safeguarding” and did not act on concerns about children’s welfare quickly enough. Designated safeguarding leads did not respond promptly to multiple concerns and failed to make timely notifications to relevant agencies.
Inspectors also found shortcomings in recruitment procedures. Leaders had not consistently obtained references from previous employers or sought clarification when references were vague. An extract of the report states: “Children’s safety is compromised at this setting. Leaders do not ensure that adults who work with children have had all required suitability checks.”
Risk Assessment and Environment Concerns
Risk assessments were described as weak. Although staff carried out daily safety checks, they failed to identify hazards. For example, children played among large brambles outside and equipment was stored unsafely. The report also noted a used fire bin in the outdoor area.
Inspectors said: “Children do not receive the quality education that they rightly deserve. This is particularly evident for children who are disadvantaged. For example, leaders fail to ensure that these children get the external support that they need to flourish and thrive.”
Impact on Children’s Development
The report highlighted that children were not consistently supported in their personal, social and emotional development and were not making expected progress across all areas of learning. Unsettled children could be heard crying for the duration of their visit, and some were left to wander without staff responding appropriately.
Activities often lacked purpose and ambition. One example cited a counting activity that was not pitched at the correct level, causing children to quickly lose interest. Weaknesses in support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) were also found, with additional help having limited impact due to staff’s “lack of knowledge”.
Regulatory Action and Closure
Ofsted issued a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring urgent improvements, including strengthening safeguarding procedures, improving recruitment checks, carrying out effective risk assessments, and establishing a more effective key-person system. The centre completed these actions earlier this month, according to the report.
However, the Manchester Evening News understands that Old Moat Childcare has since decided to close down. The centre declined to comment.
