Setting

Summary of complaint

On 04 March 2011, we received a complaint that raised concerns about inappropriate supervision of children during outdoor play and the safety and suitability of some equipment used by the provision. We needed to investigate these concerns to see whether the setting was meeting the Early Years Foundation Stage welfare requirements relating to 'Suitable people'. In particular, these include requirements that state that staffing arrangements must be organised to ensure safety and to meet the needs of the children and children should be supervised at all times. We also needed to investigate this concern to see whether the setting was meeting the Early Years Foundation Stage welfare requirements relating to 'Suitable premises, environment and equipment'. In particular, these include requirements that state that the provider must conduct a risk assessment and review it regularly and the provider must take all reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to

p.1

Summary of complaint

We do not investigate to prove or disprove a complaint but we look into the information we receive to see if the childcare provider is meeting all legal requirements. We carried out an unannounced visit to the premises and found that the outdoor equipment was safe and secure. Safety checklists were appropriate and the indoor and outdoor environments were observed to be safe and suitable. However, the risk assessments do not include dates they were conducted or review dates. Staff members are deployed effectively to ensure that children are supervised at all times. Adult to child ratios were maintained at the time of the visit but attendance records are not effectively or consistently completed to show that ratios are maintained at other times, such as during school holidays when children attend the setting all day.

p.1

Summary of complaint

Although it was not part of the original complaint, we also identified that some records were not available for inspection by Ofsted. The provider was not maintaining records required for the safe and efficient management of the setting, such as information about staff members working on the premises. We also found that records of information used to assess staff suitability, including vetting procedures, are not kept on the premises and required documentation had not been submitted to Ofsted. The provider was also not maintaining a record of visitors to the setting.

p.1

Summary of complaint

Following our investigation, we issued a notice to improve that asks the provider to:

p.2

Summary of complaint

Ensure that effective systems are in place to ensure that practitioners having access to children are suitable to do so. This is with particular regard to submitting an EY2 form, to Ofsted (The Early Years Foundation Stage General Welfare Requirements - Suitable people)

p.2

Summary of complaint

Ensure that records of information, used to assess the suitability of practitioners, are kept in order to demonstrate to Ofsted that checks have been done. Such records must include the unique reference numbers of CRB Disclosures and the date on which they were obtained (The Early Years Foundation Stage General Welfare Requirements - Suitable people)

p.2

Summary of complaint

Keep the name, home address and telephone number of any person employed on the premises and ensure that records are easily accessible for inspection by Ofsted (The Early Years Foundation Stage General Welfare Requirements - Documentation)

p.2

Summary of complaint

Keep a daily record of the names of children's key workers (The Early Years Foundation Stage General Welfare Requirements - Documentation)

p.2

Summary of complaint

Improve the record of the risk assessment by including dates of when the risk assessment was conducted and dates of any review (The Early Years Foundation Stage General Welfare Requirements - Documentation).

p.2

Summary of complaint

Ensure that the premises are safe and secure, with particular regard to implementing a system to verify the identity of any visitors, recording their name, the purpose of their visit and arrival and departure times (The Early Years Foundation Stage General Welfare Requirements - Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare)

p.2

Summary of complaint

The provider successfully completed the actions. The provider remains registered with Ofsted.

p.2

Publication of complaints

We publish details of complaints made against childminders, home childcarers and childcare providers where we or the provider have taken action in order to meet legal requirements.

p.3

Publication of complaints

We publish details of complaints for five years commencing on the date we complete our investigation.

p.3

Publication of complaints

For further information about the complaints process please view the Concerns and complaints about childminders and childcare providers leaflet (Reference no. 080120)

p.3