A NURSERY criticised for allegedly leaving rat traps in reach of children has been given a much-improved rating by Ofsted.
Blossoms Day Nursery, in Waddon, was judged to be "inadequate" - the lowest possible score - after an inspector claimed staff were unaware of risks posed by placing bait boxes in an outdoor play area.
Ofsted returned to the setting, in Waddon New Road, last month and found it had made significant progress.
That report, published this week, described Blossoms as "good" and praised staff for their "secure" knowledge of safety issues.
A "relieved" Siv Singh, the owner of the nursery, told the Advertiser: "It's been quite stressful but we have finally got the result we thought we deserved."
During February's inspection, Ofsted found staff were unable to say whether there was poison in the bait boxes left in its garden area. Mrs Singh said the boxes were locked and the only key held by a pest control company.
The latest report does not reference the traps, which are still there, but acknowledges a written risk assessment is now in place which involves staff checking the nursery, toys and equipment on a daily basis.
It praised staff, particularly for the way activities are planned, and said the nursery ensures child to adult ratios are met at all times.
"Staff are well organised and work effectively as a team," the report adds. "They promote children's safety well and support learning successfully."
Mrs Singh said: "We've not done a great deal differently this time. Instead we've had an inspector who has recognised how passionate we are about what we do.
"We've had to keep the bait boxes because we are opposite a railway line but we made it clear that a risk assessment had been carried out. That's what [Ofsted] wanted to see - evidence. We knew they were safe."
