A BRIERCLIFFE nursery has been rated as ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted after it failed to meet legal requirements during a recent inspection.

Teaching and management at Jack and Jill Pre-School, based at Briercliffe Community Centre in Jubilee Street, were heavily criticised in a report by inspector Alex Baxter, published yesterday.

Inspectors said boss Kathryn Leeming and her staff had ‘not received up-to-date training’ and ‘missed learning opportunities’ for children.

The education watchdog, which visited the nursery in January, said ‘the quality of teaching is ineffective’ and labelled management of the playgroup ‘weak’.

Mr Baxter said: “Assessments are not accurate enough for staff to have an adequate understanding of where children's development falls, as a result, staff are unable to identify children's needs.

“Children’s development checks are not completed when they reach between two and three years of age. This is a breach in meeting the legal requirements as set out in the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

“Consequently, parents and outside agencies are not given a clear understanding of the children’s needs and if any additional support is required.”

He added: “The manager understands where the setting improvements need to be made and where strengths lie, however, there are currently no plans in place as to when or how these improvements will be made.”

The pre-school, which opened in 1991, currently has 18 under-fives on its roll, and was previously rated ‘good’ following an inspection in March 2010.

Mr Baxter’s report did praise the bonds between the nursery’s staff, the children and their parents.

No one from the nursery responded to the Lancashire Telegraph when approached for a comment yesterday.