A nursery in Rochdale has been given an inadequate rating by Ofsted after several safety concerns were identified.
While the quality of education and the behaviour of the children may have been praised following a recent inspection, education watchdog Ofsted did however find that youngsters at Small World Nurseries – which is based at Tudor House on Manchester Road in Castleton – were found to be at risk of potential harm after a number of ineffective risk assessments were carried out.
Children were said to be “happy and engaged”, according to the Ofsted report, and it was also noted that they had formed “solid, affectionate bonds” with the staff that cared for them.
However, inspectors ended up rating the nursery as ‘inadequate’ overall, partly due to shortcomings in leadership and management, and mainly because policies and procedures around risk assessment and safeguarding were “not well implemented” and therefore exposed children to “potential hazards”.
The report said children were left vulnerable to avoidable injuries, as conditions at the nursery were not always suitable and safe, with “blocked fire exists, uneven surfaces, and children running with hot liquids” observed.
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“Although the environment is risk-assessed daily, this is not effective,” the report added.
Children at Small World Nurseries in Castleton were found at risk of potential harm after a number of ineffective risk assessments were carried out / Credit: Google Maps
The watchdog also said: “Children are given hot soup to drink outdoors [but] they are not given appropriate direction on how to drink this safely which means they run around on wet, slippery ground carrying hot soup, posing a risk to themselves and others.”
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The report referenced the fact children would “fall repeatedly” due to the slippery and uneven outdoor area at the nursery.
The nursery was also found to be failing to identify other practices that pose a risk to children, including providing phones for staff to use to take photos of the children without considering the risk posed by devices with “unfiltered internet access”, and Ofsted criticised the management team for being “not robust enough to recognise and rectify these concerns”.
As mentioned though, it’s not all doom and gloom for Small World Nurseries, as it was praised for its relationship with parents, who had described staff as “wonderful”, and were said to “feel reassured when their children leave the setting smiling and happy each day”.
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Inspectors noted that “all children make good progress”.
Featured Image – Google Maps
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd March 2022 
