A CHILDCARE setting in Gunnislake has closed its doors following an Ofsted inspection which deemed it ‘inadequate’.

Dimson Day Nursery and Kids Club, based at Lower Dimson Farm, had been a childcare setting for 30 years but recently decided to ‘resign their registration’.

Following a visit from Ofsted on May 3 this year, due to a complaint received that the setting was not suitable for children, the business’s registration was suspended as Ofsted felt it had ‘reasonable cause to believe children are or may be at risk of harm’. The suspension was put in place to allow time for further investigation and for steps to be taken to manage the potential risk.

Then, on June 18, an Ofsted inspector carried out an inspection but found the setting to be ‘inadequate’ in all aspects.

The inspector observed children and staff, spoke with parents, staff and children and sampled children’s learning records, staff members’ training and qualifications.

She said that there had been a ‘substantial decline in standards’ and that Ofsted would ‘normally take further enforcement action to address the weaknesses identified but the provider has chosen to resign their registration’.

The damning report by the inspector said: ‘The deployment of staff and organisation of activities do not meet children’s needs, which leads to a noisy and chaotic environment.

‘The provider does not assess the children’s progress closely enough to help staff recognise and target the gaps in the quality of their teaching and learning.

‘The provider has not acted upon concerns raised by staff about colleagues’ practice and she has not shared information with the appropriate agencies. These breaches of requirements have already been raised by Ofsted at previous inspections and the provider has not taken sufficient action.

‘Staff do not tailor activities to children’s individual learning needs because assessment is inconsistent and, in places, inaccurate. As a result, staff do not provide the right level of challenge or build on what children need to learn next.’

The inspector added: ‘Children do not make progress and are not well prepared for school. The provider and staff’s ineffective planning, organisation and deployment mean that children’s individual needs are not met. Children often spend much of the session waiting with limited support or engagement from staff and become restless and unfocused. They do not concentrate and develop new skills and are not motivated to learn.’

She did add that the children were confident and enjoyed exploring the outdoor play areas.

The Times approached the owner of Dimson Day Nursery and Kids Club for comment, but they declined.

Following the news that the nursery had resigned its registration, families expressed their sadness on social media.

A mum of two children who attended the setting told the Times: ‘Dimson was a nursery/kids club that offered such a unique experience. It was an environment that allowed children to explore, learn and develop themselves freely. Dimson taught my children how to care for others and to express their feelings and emotions. Dimson had the unique experience of being on a farm. My children and myself throughly enjoyed caring for the animals — this taught my children an invaluable life skill.

‘Dimson was supportive and proactive and always encouraged children to achieve the best they could. Both my children went to Dimson with a smile on their faces and left with one. Each day was a joyful experience for them and those around them. This is a massive loss to such an amazing educational area. Dimson will be sorely missed.’