Inspectors find dirty toys after complaint at nursery

“Our son attends Saltash Flying Start and I am extremely happy with the care they provide. Their staff are always kind and meet with with a smile. He has never cried when I have left him and always looks forward to going. They also meet the needs and requests we ask even if they might seem silly at times! I certainly would recommend them to others and I thank the staff for giving him a good start in life.”

“I have used Flying Start for the past few years and my youngest still attends. Never have I ever been concerned about the cleanliness or staffing ratio over this time. It is very sad that one act of cowardice has resulted in a smear of a brilliant nursery. My children have been very happy and secure at Flyng Start, Saltash. I personally could not give a hoot if some dust was found behind a single cupboard, this is not going to impact on the quality of care that my child receives. This whole saga smacks of sour grapes and a campaign to discredit what is an excellent nursery. Shame on the Evening Herald for jumping on a non-story and indulging someones personal vendetta against it.”

“Sounds like someone has it in for this nursery, if it was bad no parents would stick up for it. If I had children I would be glad of peoples recomendations and send them there.”

“They say you need to eat a bit of dirt before you die...I remember, as kids, hearing about other kids eating soil, worms and coal from the coal shed. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

Get the kids away from the disinfected life and get them into the real world. Let them build their immune systems the way they should, by playing normally.

Stop whingeing about kids and dirt, the two are synonymous.”

“Also, I have had some family friends who have sent their children to the Flying Start at Callington, and they have had an absolutely amazing time! They play lots in the forest and EVERY effort is made to make sure they are always safe and well cared for whilst having such an unusual education... why don't the press concentrate on more positive things like that rather than swooping in on insignificant complaints!”

“This is so ridiculous. I think it is a really revealing reflection of the state of our local press in the west country, if this is making the newspaper?! It's not even article worthy!
So there was a complaint made to the nursery 'anonymously' which sounds suspicious anyway, an investigation was made, one instance of dust was found & the nursery have re-rigged their cleaning policy. And being one member of staff under ratio? I'm a nurse & you should see the understaffed circumstances that we sometimes have to work in! There is not a lot you can do about staff sickness!!
Everybody knows that nursery care is highly scrutinised (whilst schools & care homes seem to slip much more under the radar?!) and there is NO WAY that this nursery would have held onto their 'outstanding' status, or their fantastic local reputation if there was any kind of a problem.”

“Maybe they took on more staff because they are so busy and its the start of a new term. My children and my friends who use the nursery are delighted because this is an Outstanding nursery.

I am very suprised at the Evening Herald, who would go on a visit and send a detailed complaint to Ofsted AND the local paper. Doesnt that sound just a little suspicious.This is a thinly disguised smear and Im suprised the Evening Herald didnt see through it.

Keep on giving our children a Flying Start !”

“I AM A PARENT AT THIS NURSERY and I have NEVER had a cause for concern or complaint!! All my children have attended over the last 6 years and my eldest is now a high achiever at school thanks to his 'flying start!' and only looks back at his time there with fond memories.
It is rumoured amongst us parents that the 'anonymous complainant' is an ex-parent who is currently being pursued for outstanding fees!!! How sad that they find the time to make sneaky complaints rather go and earn some money and repay their debts!
We have been informed and shown evidence that the 'dirt' that was found was simply dust behind a bookcase, which most of us and I for one have plenty of behind furniture at home, and the under staffing was purely a shortfall until mid-morning when a member of staff called in sick and staff had to be sourced from other nurseries!
I ask myself, if there was substantial truth in this then why was this very nursery judged OUTSTANDING at their last ofsted inspection?!!
I wil continue to sing their praises and recommend them to anyone who need childcare, they have done my children proud and the staff always go the extra mile to help in anyway they can!”

“i have sent both of my children to flying start in saltash( one is currently still there) over the last five years. in all that time i have never had any problems with cleanliness or staffing concerns, in fact i would say the whole operation is fantastically run. i would happily recommend flying start to anyone who was looking for childcare.
the worst part about this whole affair for me is the fact that it has all been done annonymously. i find this spineless and actually quite sneaky.
surely the best way to sort out any problems is to deal with them directly and address the problems with the manager. as far as the press getting involved i think this is as low as it can get. it is only going to give pre-concieved ideas in peoples minds who haven't got a clue what they are talking about. especially people who don't even intend to send there kids to flying start.
i would definately back mr and mrs coburn to hilt on this subject. all i can hope is that he whole sorry affair isn't detrimental to there fantastic childcare buisness.
finally i would ask the person who made this lame complaint, if you think it was that bad why don't you open a childcare buisness and see how hard it is and we'll all judge you.”

“i am shocked to read this. How can the nursery be 'under seige' when ofsted have seen this. It must be true of they have now said they have taken on more staff.

glad my child doesn't go there. if i was a parent there i would be very worried bout it.”