Member Article

New service package launched for nurseries

Durham-based Wilkinson Maintenance has launched a new service package in response to updated Ofsted guidelines for the regulation of the nursery sector.

Schools inspectorate Ofsted has made clear it is enforcing more stringent regulation of nursery environments and making information more readily available about the nurseries they are assessing.

The move has been prompted in part by a Channel Four Dispatches programme called “How Safe is Your Child’s Nursery?”.

Ofsted is now also carrying out more rigorous checks of all nurseries at the point of registration.

The ‘Nurseries Maintenance & Inspection Package’ ensures that the requisite standards of maintenance are in place.

It covers everything from checking cords on roller blinds to over fencing of play areas, making sure the electrics are safe and that no leaking taps or pipes leave puddles on the floor.

“There is nothing dearer to a parent than their child and equally the safety of the children in their care is of paramount importance to all nurseries,” said Stuart Anderson, managing director of Wilkinson Maintenance, which is based on Belmont Industrial Estate.

“Sometimes, even with the best will in the world, accidents can happen because something simple has been overlooked.”

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: “Where a re-registration is involved, for example, Ofsted encourages parents to check carefully all the information available to them about the registration, including previous inspection reports, a history of complaints and any conditions applying to the setting.”

She said the organisation is also currently in talks with the Government to ensure that parents would more easily be able to link presently registered nurseries with other closed nurseries which may have been run by the same directors.

Mr Anderson added: “Our inspection and maintenance package is tailored to the additional demands that have been placed on the nursery sector.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .