A NURSERY owned by a millionaire couple has implemented a "complete staffing restructure" after a damming inspection report branded their setting as "poorly run". 

Hannah's House Day Nursery, on 157-159 Vale Road in Rhyl, achieved a 'poor' rating for Well-being, Care and Development and Leadership and Management by Care Inspectorate Wales. It was also graded 'adequate' for its environment.

Inspectors noted "bored children" and safeguarding issues in their report and stated that some youngsters did not receive "appropriate care and attention."

Inspectors needed to prompt staff to wipe children’s noses and drinking water was not made accessible to children from the Flying Start and toddler room.

Staff also failed to guide children to wear hats [to protect them from the sun] and "ignored children’s requests" and did not allow children to go inside after playing outside for "very long periods".

Lisa Walsh, who is director of Hannah's House Day Nursery along with Chris Walsh, told the Journal that the nursery is now under new management.

Lisa hit the national headlines with her partner Chris when the couple purchased Aberllefenni in Gwynedd, which consists of 16 former quarrymen’s houses and cottages, for a reported £1m in November 2022 and then hiked up rents for tenants.

Lisa said: "Hannah's House Day Nursery is now under new management. Experienced early years professional Jacqueline Pike previously managed Hannah's House successfully, took a break to have her children and has returned to the setting recently.

"Having worked to the highest standards in England and Wales, Jacqueline has a successful background in maintaining the highest standards across multiple settings and improving standards of settings. Jaqueline comes highly commended by business owners, families and officials.

"In light of a previous report of Hannah's House Day Nursery, the owners have taken the appropriate action in response to this by implementing a complete staffing restructure with additional qualified and experienced staff including an experienced toddler room team leader. 

"Jacqueline has made positive changes to the setting, has put plans and procedures in place and implemented mitigation measures to improve setting standards consistently going forward. 

"With Jacqueline now in place, the team at Hannah's House Day Nursery have full confidence that standards are high and that child education and welfare will remain paramount, ensuring a safe, educational and fun place for children. 

"Our team are working on each others strengths and ensuring we are developing skills and enhancing training to give the children the best possible outcomes and ensuring best practice."

Care Inspectorate Wales gave the nursery a number of Priority Action Notices to action and a list of areas to improve. 

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Watchdogs said in their report on July 4: "Many children are listened to, and their choices are respected. However, children in the toddler and Flying Start room have few opportunities to make choices and decisions, and their feelings are not valued.

"A majority of children are happy. However, some do not receive appropriate care and attention. As a result, these children feel insecure and can be upset for long periods. Children interact appropriately and are learning to co-operate with each other.

"A majority of children are engaged in their play, but some are bored.

"Many children have some appropriate learning opportunities which help them develop.

"Staff follow some suitable policies and procedures to promote some aspects of children’s health and safety, however, the setting’s arrangements for safeguarding children do not meet requirements and give cause for concern.

"Leaders do not ensure staff safeguard and promote children’s welfare.

"Many staff are kind, but some provide poor care to children.

"There are not enough suitably qualified, skilled, and experienced staff to meet the children’s needs. Leaders ensure the setting is suitably maintained and most safety measures are satisfactory.

"Weaknesses in leadership and management mean children’s safety and well-being are compromised."

The report noted that leaders do not comply with all relevant regulations and do not meet the National Minimum Standards and several priority action notices have been issued which require "urgent action".

"Leaders are not fully aware of their regulatory responsibilities and the setting is poorly run," it added. 

Inspectors found that about "half of staff" have completed safeguarding training.

However, the setting’s arrangements for safeguarding children do not meet requirements and give "cause for concern".

The report said: "Leaders do not know the detail of their safeguarding policy well enough, and do not always follow it, which results in inappropriate action being taken.

"This is having an impact on children’s health and well-being and placing them at risk, and we have therefore issued a priority action notice. The provider must take immediate action to address this issue."