A Tregaron nursery has been closed down for at least six weeks after inspectors found the “majority of staff are not suitably qualified” and that background checks for staff were not available - among a series of breaches.

Meithrinfa Ser Caron, based at Neuadd Abercoed, was the subject of a damning report by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW), and inspectors forced its closure to ensure “immediate improvement”.

Nursery owner Elin Evans told the Cambrian News: “I am working with CIW to rectify the problems and will be reopen as soon as possible.”

CIW report conducted an unannounced visit in November on the Welsh-language setting following an earlier visit in February which flagged up multiple non-compliance issues, leaving the leadership and management at the nursery rated as ‘poor’.

A CIW report released last month found that Elin Evans, the registered person in charge, “does not always ensure that she complies with the regulations and national minimum standards” and that inspectors had “identified further non-compliances”.

The CIW report said that “leadership is not effective”, and “does not always ensure that the systems in place make proper provision for the care and supervision of children”.

“CIW has asked the registered person on four occasions to show us the disclosure and barring certificates for all new staff. She has not responded to any of those requests,” the report said.

“The registered person does not always follow a safe recruitment process to ensure suitability of workers, and does not ensure that she completes full and satisfactory suitability checks,” the report added.

Inspectors also found that it had not been assured that “at least one member of staff caring for the children at the service at any one time has a valid first aid certificate” and that leadership “does not always ensure that there is a sufficient number of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced persons looking after the relevant children”.

“The majority of staff are not suitably qualified,” the report added.

Non-compliance notices were also issued over registration issues, visitor logs, and staff disciplinary procedures.

The report found that the nursery “does not have an effective and meaningful system in place to monitor, review or improve the quality of care given to children” after four requests for a quality of care report were ignored. It concluded: “The impact on children using the service is that they are not safeguarded because CIW cannot be confident that the registered person provides day care with sufficient care, competence and skill as the provider does not effectively manage the service and does not ensure compliance with the regulations.”

A CIW spokesperson said: “Following inspection, CIW identified areas that required immediate improvement and a decision was made to close the service for an initial period of six weeks.”

Ceredigion council said it was “aware” the nursery is “temporarily closed”, and it “works closely with CIW in relation to all childcare matters”.