‘Inadequate’ nursery finds a new home
THE owner of a children’s nurs- ery in Maidstone that closed down and re-opened in a new location following an inade- quate Ofsted report said the move was on the cards and had nothing to do with the grade four rating. Miriam Thomson ran Mim
and Me Childcare in the grounds of Brunswick House Primary School, Leafy Lane, when Ofsted inspectors visited earlier this year. When the damning report was published in June, Downs Mail contacted Ms Thomson for a comment and she said she was challenging the grade as she had been rushed to hospital on the morning of the inspection and had not been able to give inspectors correct information. Weeks later the childcare set-
ting closed and Ofsted spokesman Kim Tran told the Downs Mail: “The registered provider Mim and Me Child- care recently resigned their reg- istration as they wanted to move to another location and has now re-registered else- where. While the inspection re- port remains on our website, it will shortly be removed as this provision has now closed.” Neither Ofsted norMs Thom-
son would reveal the location of the new setting or whether it still had the same name. Despite scoring a grade 3 in
its previous inspection a year ago,Mim andMe Childcare was given the worst grade in all three sections of the report,
scoring a grade 4, inadequate. Inspectors did highlight some
of the setting’s strengths – the positive relationship between children and practitioners, which supported the young- sters’ self-esteem; that children played well and showed respect for others; and that children had good opportunities to de- velop their physical skills on play equipment. However, staff were told re- cruitment procedures were not rigorous and record storage was inappropriate, resulting in poor recording of practitioners’ suit- ability checks, qualifications and training. Inspectors said there was not an appropriately qualified deputy to manage in Ms Thomson’s absence; plan- ning was weak and did not cater for the needs of individual children. Ms Thompson said: “When Ofsted came back in February, the setting was actually closed as I had an emergency cae- sarean on the same day. I re- member speaking to the inspector from my hospital bed. “An unauthorised person
took the inspection and we have a stage two complaint with Ofsted, which is serious. They gave us this grading not due to performance, but because there was not a qualified person on- site. We followed our emer- gency plan and endeavoured to contact parents. “Ofsted is impressed with our
new setting and say our recruit- ment procedure is tight.”
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Ross Porter, from
Bearsted, and Jake Harris, from Downswood, collect their trophies
Rowers find success at regatta MEMBERSof Maidstone Invicta rowing club returned from SudburyRe- gatta in Suffolk with a boat-full of trophies following a successful day on the river. The RiverStourhosted its133rd regattaearlier this month andamong
the club’s crewsand single scullerswhoentered the regatta,10won tro- phies in the junior and veteran categories. Newmember Hayley Griffith (27), from Perryfield Street in Maidstone,
said: “Itwasareally great to see somanymembersof the clubdo sowell at the regatta. Itwasmy first competitive event, as I have only been row- ing for six months so itwas a great experience forme.” The rowing club is constantly looking for newmembers and people in-
terested in becoming a cox. Go to
maidstoneinvicta.blogspot.co.uk for more information.
Conversion plan MICHAEL Ruse has been given planning permission by Maid- stone Council to convert an of- fice into a one-bedroom home at 10a Queen Anne Road,Maid- stone.
Quiz in aid of RNLI THE Maidstone RNLI quiz is at Fant Hall, in Fant Lane, Barm- ing, at 7.30pm on Friday, Octo- ber 11. For tickets, call John Fulton on 01622 674974 or John Ashbolt on 01622 725435.
info@redlet.co.uk
www.redlet.co.uk Milwood House, 36b Albion House, Maidstone, ME14 5DZ
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