Ofsted is investigating an appeal after a Sutton Hospital nursery was allegedly found to not always be recording information about DBS checks on its staff.

Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust is urging for Willows Day Nursery, in Cotswold Road, to be revisited after it was rated ‘inadequate’ in its latest inspection (February 22).

While the provision, which looks after around 50 children was praised for its ‘kind and caring staff’ and parents are happy, the trust has submitted a formal appeal.

Inspector Josephine Heath said: “The provider does not always record information about staff identity checks. This specifically refers to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

“Therefore, it is unclear if all those working with the children are suitably vetted.

“Managers do not implement systems to check that staff are continually suitable to work with children during their employment. This potentially puts children at risk of harm.”

An Epsom and St Helier spokeswoman stated that meeting the needs of children in the trust’s nurseries is an ‘absolute priority at all times’, which also includes protecting their welfare at all times and providing ‘high-quality’ educational standards.

She added: “We are disappointed with the results of this latest Ofsted report, and believe that a number of factual inaccuracies have led to this new rating.

"As a result we have submitted a formal appeal to Ofsted and have asked that the service is re-inspected.

“We did agree with the inspector that there were some issues that needed action and we have already implemented these.

“It is also important to note that the inspector found that parents of the children at the nursery are very happy with the care that our team provide.”

Ms Heath, who visited on January 15, also highlighted strengths in her report of Willows Day Nursery, which provides funded early education for children up to four years old.

She added: “Staff are kind and caring. They get to know children fairly well from the start and offer help to settle them in. Children develop bonds with staff and are comfortable attending.

“The environment is clean and secure. The rooms are welcoming, bright, and well-resourced. Children have fun and enjoy attending.

“Parents comment they are happy with the service.”

An Ofsted spokesman confirmed a complaint has been made by the nursery and it will be investigated with the governing body’s published complaints policy.

He said: “Ofsted inspected this nursery in January and found it had significant weaknesses, therefore we judged it to be inadequate.

“We are now monitoring its progress against the areas that need to be improved for the benefit of the 50 or so young children who go there.”

Willows Day Nursery’s 11 childcare staff members all hold early years qualifications at level three and above with the provider operating all throughout the year.