Wellingborough day nursery closed after surprise Ofsted inspection found mud, unflushed toilet and security concerns

Rated good in all areas in March 2023, two years later in October and November 2025, the nursery notified Ofsted about matters relating to ‘safeguarding policies and procedures, concerns about children's safety and welfare, suitable people, supporting and understanding children's behaviour’.

Inspectors made further visits to the The Old Station Nursery-managed facility in Croyland Road after concerns were raised again in February 2026 and most recently at the end of October after complaints of hygiene, security and learning and development.

Last night, parents and cares were sent a letter ‘out of the blue’ from area manager Vicki Hill stating the nursery had shut, explaining the reasons for the closure after the unannounced Ofsted visit.

She said: “During this visit, Ofsted identified some areas where improvements were required.

"We are committed to continuous improvement and ensuring that the safety, well-being and development of the children in our care remains our highest priority.”

One parent who contacted the Northants Telegraph said: “I'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner. We have been told the nursery is closed until Christmas.”

Areas for action highlighted by Ofsted were ‘hygiene requirements’ due to muddy floors and an unflushed toilet.

Ms Hill stated in her email: “This relates to the pre-school bathroom where the floor had mud from children accessing the garden, and some toilet tissue and paper towels on the floor, with an unflushed toilet.

"Following this we have taken appropriate action with staff concerned and have implemented a more robust toilet checklist to ensure that the area is always clean and hygienic for children. This area is also being refurbished with the forthcoming works.”

Currently work is being carried out at the nursery. When Ofsted visited, the inspector was concerned by the security of premises when a contractor left a side gate open for access.

Ms Hill stated: “Please rest assured that the garden was out of use at this time, and no unauthorised persons entered the nursery. Following this, we have strengthened our procedures, robust monitoring arrangements, and site checks to further enhance security and ensure the continued safety of all children and ensure that the gate is not propped open at any time.”

In response to the concerns of ‘learning and development’ Ms Hill admitted during the visit ‘some staff were unsure on how to deliver the curriculum to best support the needs of some children’ and that ‘some activities being offered were not targeted effectively to reflect all individual needs’.

She reassured parents and carers: “We have since provided further training for our staff team to strengthen curriculum knowledge and support the delivery of high-quality learning experiences for all children.”

After The Old Station Nursery bosses made the notification to Ofsted of the ‘significant event’ it meant the nursery ‘met their legal responsibility’ as set out in the statutory framework.

In February 2026, Ofsted stated: “We received concerns that the provider was not meeting requirements relating to concerns about children's safety and welfare, safeguarding policies and procedures, suitable people, safety of premises, indoor space requirements, safeguarding training.”

Later that month, Ofsted carried out a regulatory visit and found the provider was ‘not meeting some of the requirements’ and had ‘taken action to put this right’. The nursery made changes to safer recruitment procedures to ‘ensure that all individuals working with children are suitable’. Staff recruiters also completed additional training to refresh their skills.

But inspectors found that the provider was not meeting some ‘other requirements’ and issued actions for the nursery to take by March 2026.

Ofsted was satisfied a ‘suitably qualified manager’ had been put in place and other safeguarding and welfare actions met.

Today members of staff were at the site but did not want to comment when contacted by our reporters.

The Old Station Nursery group has been contacted for a statement.

For the full complaint go to Ofsted’s website at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY450525.