A Tilbury nursery has been hit with a scathing report after Ofsted found children were “at risk of injury” and ‘going hungry’.

The national watchdog for education rated Great Child Day Nursery ‘inadequate’ – the lowest possible rating.

The Dock Road nursery was visited by inspectors in August who reported “children's safety is significantly compromised”.

The Ofsted report said youngsters in the nursery’s care were not supervised “effectively”, adding: “Behaviour is not managed properly and some children are put at risk of injury.”

Staff were criticised for failing to undertake proper risk assessments to keep children safe.

“For example, there is a metal trampoline which is not secured to the ground to prevent it falling and it is placed next to a brick wall,” the report stated.

It continued: “Nails, which are at child height, are left sticking out on the side of the shed, which is also rotting in places.”

Ofsted went on to criticise how children were fed during their time at the nursery.

The report read: “The food offered does not form part of a healthy balanced diet. Some children go hungry as they do not like the food and no alternative is provided.”

The equipment on offer for children was also blasted by inspectors as “worn and dirty” and a lack of age-appropriate resources was cited as reason for poor educational progress at the nursery.

Staff were also criticised for failing to properly assist the young children in their care in learning how to socialise with peers.

Ofsted said: “Staff are not able to manage children's behaviour appropriately and these situations often escalate, putting children at risk of harm. Children do not learn to share, consider others, or have good manners. Staff fail to explain and show children how to socialise with each other in order for them to learn these skills.”

A spokesperson for Great Child Day Nursery said: “While we do not totally agree with the Ofsted inspection report, the setting reopened after a visit from Thurrock welfare officer to ensure that we do not put children’s safety in jeopardy.

“We have however ensured that all actions on the welfare requirement has been met with some ongoing and we continue to work with the Thurrock Council welfare officers. We have been given six-month moratorium period and are confident that the next inspection will be graded at the outcome that reflect all the hard work that has been put in.”