Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Orange Day Nursery gets 'inadequate' Ofsted rating
Any other Orange Day parents out there worrying what to do about the just published 'inadequate' Ofsted rating?
Their letter to all the parents about this says Eileen Rumble has been returned as Interim Manager but chatting at Harringay Market today i was told she's only back part time, does anyone know if thats the case?
That letter also said Eileen would be corresponding with all parents by the end of last week but we've had nothing yet, has anyone?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DrWhams on
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I guess one thing that muddies the waters slightly is that the number of children is much higher than the number of places because some children aren't there every day. One of the other things Eileen mentioned (if I remember the numbers right) is that she wanted to aim for the following numbers in each of the rooms: 9 (Pineapple), 16, 20, 24 (Kiwi) which is 69.
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Permalink Reply by ant on
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A couple of people who couldn't be there asked for a summary, so heres one from my POV. It was quite long and i probably missed and misinterpreted some things, jump in with additions or corrections if you have them.
- lots of people there, perhaps 200 parents, along with Orange staff from each room and Eileen the interim manager and the new admin assistant
- some debating with Ofsted about specific points in their report but overall no denying Orange has slipped to below par, and, it sounds like the 'good' report from earlier last year may not have really been deserved either.
- this Ofsted report so soon after the last was because of a complaint, but no details of the complaint
- it sounded like there have been more accidents than is normal
- Eileen is who originally set up Orange and after leaving to have children set up another nursery in Covent Garden. She's now been brought back as manger part time, also new part time admin assistant
- Eileen seems very good and competent and can make a great nursery
- but shes only going to be there for 2 perhaps 3 days a week, plus working after hours, and will leave again once a new manager is found, but Eileen is going to make sure the new manager is a good one
- some poor performing staff already "let go", and big reductions in agency and part time staff planned so that there will be more full time permanent carers and more consistency for the children
- lack of investment in management has caused issues
- the director controls the finances and the director was not present so couldn't talk much about that aspect
- a lot of anger at the director not being present
- i got the impression that Orange was once an excellent place but for a while now the director has just been milking its reputation at the expensive of investing in maintaining that excellence
- there will be another meeting in a few weeks where the director will be present
- several people are withholding their fees payment for the time being, a lot sounded like they wanted everyone to withhold 20% of fees till at least a "good" rating is achieved again
- the number of children on the role has been hugley increased resulting in overcrowding
- sounds hard to correct quickly as parents get promised places many months in advance and its hard for them to find alternatives at short notice
- looking at alternative room layouts and more creative use of available space
- it didn't sound like there are any plans to change aiming for the maximum legally permitted children in each room looked after by the minimum staff legally permitted, which i found very very disappointing
- they want there to be more parent and staff meetings and looking at setting up an online forum
- concern that good staff might leave now that the place has a bad rep
- everyone agrees there are some really really good staff working there and it could be a great place if they get proper support
Overall, it sounded like it may take a little while but it Eileen will turn it around and make it a great nursery again, but then she'll be leaving it to a new manager and we don't know yet what commitment we'll get from the director to maintain the high standard this time.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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"and looking at setting up an online forum" - doesn't any educational institution that comes in for a kicking online try this on? What a waste of money just for the chimera of control over their press.
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Permalink Reply by Inkeri Hytti on
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I am one of the new parents. My daughter started at the nursery yesterday. I was at the parents meeting and mentioned that as a new parent it's difficult to try to source childcare elsewhere with such short notice. Even though Eileen asked me to change my days, it wasn't easy to do so with short notice, but I did tell her I would try.
I just wanted to report that by yesterday (that's when we asked as I was trying to change my days with work) they had already arranged it so that there are no more than 9 babies in pineapple room in any day of the week. I think this is remarkable progress in 2 days. So that really fills me with confidence that Eileen will sort this out in the timescale she has set out.
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I was very disappointed to learn the reason for the inspection was a complaint when I had explicitly asked the deputy manager whether this was the case but was told it was routine. So for me, trust has been broken at a senior level.
When faced with a crisis like the one at Orange, a director of a company would cancel all plans and front an organisation to address its stakeholders. Bhavna has not done that and it shows complete contempt for all the parents. Eileen seems to be a competent manager (I do however have concerns for her workload), and I'm sure she will get the nursery back to a good standard, but then what? The problem is still present, and won't be going away, even with a non exec.
If I were to take my child out of the nursery, it wouldn't be a "knee jerk" reaction, it would be based on gut instinct; I want to give my child the best opportunity possible. Orange cannot do that right now and I worry about its ability to deliver into the future.
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Didn't Eileen also suggest that she wanted to have representatives from the parents when it came to reviewing policy changes? (which may be the source of confusion here). Given that it's free to set up an email list that anyone can post to, I don't see how that constitutes a waste of money or control over the press.
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Just get a room on Mumsnet or a group on Facebook! Why put them to all this extra expense?
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All these options are free, whether Mumsnet, Facebook or GoogleGroups - I don't see where the suggestion of spending money on it is coming from.
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Permalink Reply by BlaiseGV on
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We are considering Orange Nursery but I wondered if anyone could update this thread on the state of affairs there now, a year on?
Many thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Robin Parker on
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The Ofsted inspectors were in this week to see what has improved so we await their report.
The staff have worked very hard to improve things and listen to parents over the past year. We have faith in them and the children are very happy. (They've possibly benefited from there being slightly fewer kids in the nursery as a whole - it used to be at capacity and in demand; now i believe there is no waiting list.)
One thing though: The inadequate rating led to the withdrawal of EFYS funding, which kicks in at age 3. Parents expecting to get a discount have been very disappointed that Orange has continued to charge the full amount. There is an expectation of goodwill from parents that is not reciprocated by the owner. We are hoping for an improved rating that will return this discount.
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Permalink Reply by Ruben on
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Ofsted came back yesterday. I believe they were happier about what they saw, but now it's a waiting game. Last time it took roughly 20 days between inspectors turning up and report being published.
In terms of what the Nursery is like, it has improved quite a lot but I think that nothing beats your visiting a few and gauging what your money can get you.
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