OFSTED Inspection Report

Please find a link to our OFSTED Inspection Report following their visit on the 9th July 2025.

 

Dear Parents/Carers
The Directors of Middleton Cheney Pre School would like to provide some important context in relation to the recent Ofsted inspection and to thank you for your continued support.

Firstly, we would like to thank Jacqui for her outstanding leadership and the Pre School staff for their excellent performance.  We are immensely proud of the Pre School team for the way they represented the setting during the inspection.

The inspector was hugely complimentary about the provision, the staff, and the day-to-day running of the Pre School.  The inspector commented on how much she enjoyed her visit and praised the warm, nurturing environment that she observed.
Staff were confident and knowledgeable throughout, demonstrating clear understanding of safeguarding and child development.  

Every aspect observed was graded as at least Good, and we could not be prouder of the dedication and professionalism shown.

However, we must also share some disappointing news.  Despite the many positive findings, the overall outcome of the Ofsted inspection was a grading of Inadequate.  The reason cited was a failure in relation to safeguarding.
 

We wanted to reassure you that this was solely due to an administrative issue at Director level concerning certain statutory filing requirements, which, despite having no impact on the care provided, triggered an automatic downgrade under Ofsted’s regulations.

The inspector recognised the strength of the provision and went to great lengths to advocate for a fairer outcome, even spending a significant amount of time discussing the case with Ofsted directly. Unfortunately, the statutory framework leaves no room for flexibility in these matters.
We are taking this extremely seriously and are acting swiftly to ensure that all necessary documentation is fully in place ahead of the next Ofsted inspection (expected to take place before Christmas).  We are confident that, once this is resolved, the outcome will reflect the true quality of the Pre School and the exceptional work taking place every day.

Our thanks again to Jacqui and the team for their unwavering commitment, and to all of you for your understanding and support.

​

We have included below some recent parent feedback that was shared with Ofsted and which we feel encapsulates the true spirit of the setting:

 “Since starting at the preschool, our daughter has grown in confidence and learned so much. Her communication, independence, and social skills have developed significantly.”

 “We've seen such positive growth in [our son] – academically, emotionally and socially.  His confidence has really flourished.”

 “[Our son] struggled so much in the beginning with his speech and sharing with other children... He’s made huge progress and is excited to go to preschool.”

 “The range of activities and learning experiences offered are clearly well thought out and support her development in a fun, engaging way.”
 

“The setting provides a warm, nurturing, and engaging environment that has allowed [our son] to thrive.”

 “The activities you provide are a true reflection on how well you have got to know each of the children”.

 “The staff are always welcoming, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do.”

 “Jacqui is exceptional – she keeps us regularly updated with thoughtful insights and is quick to communicate any concerns or celebrations.”

 “You often described both children better than we could ourselves.  You’ve provided invaluable support to us as parents.”

 “We receive regular updates via Tapestry, which are always thoughtful and informative.”

 "The communication via newsletters weekly and the observations on Tapestry are just lovely.”

 “The open-door policy means we can easily speak to staff in more detail when needed.”

 “[Our daughter] looks forward to preschool and often talks at home about what she’s done and the friends she’s made.”

 “[Our son] is happy to go in each day, feels safe, and is completely comfortable with all the staff.”

 “[Our daughter] would love to go to Pre-school every day if she could!”