Humpty Dumpty pre-school Ofsted released after closure

Ofsted inspectors visited Humpty Dumpty pre-school on Wednesday, October 9, and found the quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership and management all required improvement.

The school was previously rated good in 2019, with three categories were rated good with one element of outstanding.

During their October visit, inspectors noted staff did "not clearly" understand or implement the curriculum meaning children did not learn from their experiences and "do not make the best possible progress".

Humpty Dumpty pre-school was based in Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre on Twelve Acres Approach (Image: Google Maps)

The nativity show at Humpty Dumpty preschool in 2002 (Image: Newsquest)The report praised the attitude and friendliness of the staff and the relationships they developed with the children.

The report said: "The curriculum is not clearly understood or implemented by staff. While staff spend most of their time interacting with the children, they do not always understand what they want children to focus on and learn. This means that children do not gain as much learning from their experiences as they could and do not make the best possible progress.

Further improvements was needed to support children with language and communication needs.

Inspectors noted leaders were acknowledged work was needed to improve provision but practice was "not yet fully effective in ensuring children benefit from a consistently good level of education".

Humpty Dumpty's was found to have effective safeguarding protocols however, with the report praising the "positive and open culture" that "puts children's interests first".

Ofsted made two requests to the pre-school that to meet the requirements of early years foundation stage it must ensure all staff understood and implemented a curriculum that challenged and engaged children and had strategies to close the gaps for children with emerging needs.

These changes would have needed to have been implemented by November 30.

The pre-school, which opened in 1987, announced on Thursday, October 17, that it would close permanently the next day.

At the time, the pre-school said: “We are absolutely gutted and heartbroken, we have put so much effort into trying to keep the setting going, but unfortunately the setting was not financially viable."