AN OVERTON nursery has been told to improve because children's well-being is "at risk".

Overton Children's House was visited by Ofsted and found to be "inadequate" in all areas.

A report, published in March, said: "Staff use inappropriate methods to manage children's behaviour."

Inspectors also found that recruitment procedures were not robust to help keep children safe, and the provider failed to inform the education watchdog that a child had left the nursery unsupervised.

The report added: "Staff do not maintain an accurate record of children's attendance to promote their welfare."

Ofsted inspectors found the quality of teaching was weak; children often wandered into the bathroom or hallway out of sight from staff; staff used unnecessary force to restrain children; children washed their hands in shared water, increasing the risk of cross-infection; and the provider failed to always obtain references when recruiting, or question gaps in employment history.

The report stated that a strength of the nursery, based at St Luke's Hall, in Winchester Street, was the quality of teaching during focused one-to-one activities.

The nursery, which has 27 children on roll, is one of two privately-owned Montessori settings - the other is in Steventon.

Following the inspection, Ofsted issued enforcement action and a welfare requirement notice.

Ofsted made an unannounced visit on March 24, to "monitor the provider's compliance" with the welfare notice and found that not all actions had been implemented.

A summary of the visit, published by Ofsted on April 30, said: "Hand-washing procedures had not been revised, following the inspection, in order to promote children's good health and prevent the spread of infection. As a result, children's well-being was at risk."

However, inspectors did find that the provider, Marianne Preece, had sought "targeted training and support from Hampshire early years team, both for herself and her staff."

The report added: "Staff were using effective, positive strategies for managing children's behaviour. Staff had a secure understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities and the correct procedure to follow if they had a concern about a child."

Following the second visit, Ofsted issued Overton Children's House with a notice to improve and will now monitor the nursery.

Mrs Preece told The Gazette that action had been taken to address concerns raised in the inspection, including buying a portable wash stand and training staff in physical handing and behaviour management.

She said: "We are now expecting a re-inspection before the end of this term and are all working hard to achieve an outstanding judgement."

She added: "I have also been encouraged by the positive feedback and expressions of support that we have had from parents. I am confident that the report following the re-inspection will reflect better the high quality practice of staff and the achievements of all the children in our setting."