Nursery closed after inspectors find ‘claw hammer and nails’ left out

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

A nursery has closed after Ofsted criticised it for leaving a hammer and nails in a toolbox near kids.

The Mustard Seed Christian Pre-School in Herne Hill was rated inadequate in all areas following an inspection in November 2022.

An inspector also slammed the nursery, which was based at Herne Hill Baptist Church in Half Moon Lane, for failing to shut a kitchen door.

A report published on Tuesday said: “Staff do not have a proactive approach to establishing what may pose a risk to children’s safety. For example, the kitchen door is left open, and there is an open toolbox with a claw hammer and nails.

“Some areas of the pre-school that are dangerous for children are accessible to them. This demonstrates that risk assessments are not effective in reducing risks to children. Children are not taught how to keep safe.”

But the inspector noted that parents found the nursery’s manager “courteous and professional” and said kids enjoyed attending the pre-school.

The inspector also praised the nursery for giving children the chance to improve their balance with indoor apparatus.

Mustard Seed Christian Pre-School bosses said they had decided to shut down before the Ofsted inspection last year because of financial problems.

A spokesman for the nursery said: “We were disappointed with the outcome of the Inspection and take the findings very seriously.

“We immediately put in place actions to address the issues outlined in the Welfare Requirements Notice.

“A decision had already been taken, prior to the Ofsted inspection, that the pre-school would need to close as it was no longer financially viable.  It closed permanently at the end of last term in December.”