A VOCAL advocate for greater support in early years education has decided to close her nursery and preschool, due to ‘Ofsted’s ever-changing goalposts’ and ‘the unsustainable level of underfunding provided by the Department of Education’. 

Denise Tupman has been running Grafton Childcare Day Nursery and Preschool for 32 years. 

Last July, Grafton received a ‘good’ rating with areas of ‘outstanding’. After an unannounced visit from Ofsted last week, that rating fell to ‘inadequate’. 

Denise said: ‘We have not changed anything. The only difference is that it was an unannounced inspection rather than getting 12 hours’ notice, and we weren’t prepared.’

‘They said that the equipment and resources were amazing; the communication and language were amazing; the food amazing. But they pick you up on a few things and that makes you inadequate, which is an awful shame. 

‘It was down to two members of staff who basically were terrified and didn’t perform well on the day.

‘One of them has signed off sick from the stress of it, the other resigned the following morning because she couldn’t handle the stress and was devastated by the result. Isn’t that sad?’ 

Grafton isn’t the only setting to receive a random Ofsted check, nor was it the only one to fail it. Several other settings across Newton Abbot and surrounding areas have also been given ‘inadequate’ or, if they’re lucky, ‘requires improvement’. 

Last year, Ofsted statistics revealed the closure of 5,400 early years settings. After the inspection, Denise did not challenge the decision and, rather than continue and receive further unannounced inspections, she decided to close on her terms. 

She added: ‘The ridiculous hoops I must jump through have made it impossible to continue to provide the childcare I have been so very very very proud and honoured to do for the past 32 years.

‘Grafton Childcare will close at 6.00 pm on Friday 26th May 2023 and we will endeavour to be available for all contracted hours to all of our current contracted children up till this date, ratios and staff permitting.

‘​I have been overwhelmed in the past few days by the dozens of current and ex-parents and staff who have taken the time to contact me and say how sad they are to hear that I was retiring, but after 32 years I feel now is the time.

‘With the impending changes in ratios which will come in, in September 2023 and Early Years Funding which will come in in 2024 I felt now was the time to bow out gracefully and let those who are younger and have not had their passion and enthusiasm beaten out of them take up the gauntlet and inspire the next generation of doers and thinkers.’

A spokesman for Devon County Council said:

'We are aware of the childcare provider’s decision to end the service. We’re working with them and the families that currently use their service, to help those families find suitable alternative childcare arrangements.'