Inspectors visited Golders Hill Day Nursery, in Finchley Road, on March 3 and published a damning report on what they found.
They said its overall effectiveness was ‘inadequate’, the regulator’s lowest grade.
It got the same rating in all four inspection categories – the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
The nursery, which has 42 children aged up to four, was registered in 2022.
Following a visit a year later, Ofsted said action had been taken regarding their “concerns” the nursery was not meeting statutory requirements.
Their latest report, published on March 31, began: “Leaders do not have sufficient oversight to ensure the safe and efficient running of this nursery.
“Staff, including leaders, do not have the knowledge required to keep children safe.”
They said leaders have not ensured that staff are recruited in line with safer recruitment guidance which means there is no assurance that all staff are suitable to be working with children.
The report notes that most staff engage with children in their self-chosen activities where “interactions are generally warm and reassuring”.
However, it adds: “Some staff sit with children but fail to interact or engage in their play in any meaningful way.”
Expectations of children’s behaviour is also inconsistent, say inspectors.
Ofsted found younger children participate successfully in group sessions as staff use effective strategies to keep them engaged and learning.
But older children are “allowed to get up and leave story time to continue their play”.
Local trips have stopped happening due to behaviour challenges, the report said, so “children are missing out on rich learning experiences”.
The inspectors also said the arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.
“There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first.
“Leaders have not effectively monitored safeguarding knowledge to ensure all staff can identify potential signs of abuse and know the appropriate procedures for reporting concerns.”
Staff generally support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well, inspectors said, but they found leaders “lack oversight” and “do not work effectively with parents, or other professionals, to ensure a cohesive approach to meeting children’s individual needs”.
They added: “Leaders reflect on the weaknesses identified openly and honestly. They are acutely aware that they have not taken sufficient action to ensure the safe and effective running of the nursery.
“However, they have recently expanded the leadership team in recognition of these weaknesses, and are open to support from other agencies, demonstrating a commitment and capacity for improvement.”
Nursery manager Jane Densham said: “Although disappointed, we have taken to heart Ofsted’s judgement.
“We want to reassure our parents that all staff are working together around the clock to ensure that we meet all points raised in the report and that we are improving.
“Our next inspection will be within the next six months.”
