A nursery has been told it must improve after it was marked inadequate, the lowest rating available.

The education watchdog, Ofsted, inspected Evolution Kids Club and Nursery and published the report on Friday, October 4.

The nursery is on the grounds of Grove Park School in Hilton Drive, Sittingbourne, and has 44 children.

In the report, managers were criticised for not maintaining adequate security checks on the staff working with children and it said youngsters were not aware of who to go to for help.

Inspector Sarah Stephens, who visited on September 16, said: "Staff do not plan an exciting and stimulating curriculum that supports children's motivation and interest in learning.

"As a result, children do not sustain their concentration in activities and do not engage in purposeful play.

"Behaviour is compromised because of a poor learning environment that does not meet their development needs and abilities.

'Staff do not plan an exciting and stimulating curriculum that supports children's motivation' - Sarah Stephens

"They struggle to manage their feelings and argue over toys.

"Not all children settle well and do not know who to approach for support due to the weak key person system."

A key person is allocated to a specific set of children who will then make sure they feel safe and cared for.

Ms Stephens added: "The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

"Leaders do not understand what to do if they had to dismiss a member of staff because they had put a child at risk or harmed a child.

'Not all children settle well and do not know who to approach for support' - Sarah Stephens

"They also do not implement their vetting and recruitment policy effectively.

"For instance, they do not check the status of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for staff."

DBS checks help employers make sure no unsuitable people are working with vulnerable groups, including children, by searching for current criminal convictions.

As the service was rated inadequate, Ofsted will take enforcement action.

It served a Welfare Requirements Notice forcing the nursery to take steps which include bringing in an effective key person system, making sure leaders gain a secure understanding of safeguarding and developing partnerships with other services children attend.

It follows concerns raised in April and June that the provider was not meeting key requirements. Ofsted wrote to bosses in July asking them to improve things including safeguarding.

The service was praised for building sensory skills and promoting understanding around why being different is good.

It was last inspected in March 2018 when it was rated good overall.

Evolution Kids Club and Nursery declined to comment on the report.

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