A previously “outstanding” High Wycombe based nursery has been deemed as "requires improvement" by Ofsted due to fears over children’s safety.

Inspectors found managers at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery in Easton Street were not carrying out necessary safety procedures and identifying hazards which “hindered the children’s safety”.

Issues over communication between members of staff were also raised, with inspectors concerned this would affect the rate of a child’s development.

The report stated: “Risk assessment processes are not consistent enough. For example, at the inspection, some debris and rubbish were found at the children’s level in the youngest age group.

“Despite this staff ensure the premises are secure and generally organise themselves to supervise children, which reduces any significant harm.”

While staff were praised for encouraging children to behave well and working closely with children to enforce this, they were criticised for not preventing all hazardous situations.

The report continued: “Although staff deploy themselves well overall staff do not always make sure they assess all possible hazards to children.

“This means that children’s safety is not always fully considered at times. For example, at the inspection, staff did not consider all possible risks when teaching young children how to use scissors."

However staff were praised for being “warm and nurturing” towards the children and it was recognised that children are happy to be left in their care.

Staff at the nursery have been left “devastated” by the report and plan to appeal the result.

Nursery manager, Iwona Tangri, said: “We recently were inspected and we are very unhappy with the result. We were devastated – it was such a shock especially as we were an outstanding nursery before.

“We are in discussions with the Ofsted about the results – that is all we can say at the moment. All the parents have been very supportive.

“If Ofsted do decide that is the right result we will of course work together to make sure the nursery gets better and becomes outstanding again.”