Second Steps Day Nursery

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Second Steps Day Nursery Durham Rd Laindon Essex SS15 6PJ Our Reference EY308855

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Outcome of monitoring visit for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Mandy Mooney, carried out a monitoring visit of your provision on 07/01/2013. This visit follows on from your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of the visit

As a result of our inspection on 06/12/2012, we sent you a welfare requirements notice.

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Outcome of the visit

The welfare requirement notice under the Early Years Foundation Stage Welfare Requirements asked you to ensure that the premises, indoors and outside are fit for purpose and safe for children. Take steps to remedy identified risks and hazards, such as dirty and faulty equipment and areas, so that children are not exposed unnecessarily to hygiene and safety hazards. Actions raised in the notice to improve asked you to; provide evidence of suitability for all persons employed at the setting and in contact with children. This includes identity checks and details of criminal records disclosures, such as the reference number, date of disclosure and details of who obtained it; ensure that the designated practitioner with overall responsibility for safeguarding children attends an appropriate training course which enables them to identify, understand and respond appropriately to any signs of abuse or neglect; put

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Outcome of the visit

in place measures to supervise staff to provide support, coaching and training which fosters a culture of mutual support, teamwork and continuous improvement; enforce the no smoking policy so that children are not exposed to the hazards from smoke in or near the premises and outside area where the children are, or may be about to be, present and improve educational programmes and provide sufficient, age- appropriate and stimulating, accessible resources so that all children have opportunities to enjoy challenging and meaningful activities which engage and inspire them to make progress.

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Outcome of the visit

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that at this time the setting is making improvement overall.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

At the first monitoring visit on 7 January 2013, the regulatory inspector found, through observation, discussion and documentation, that the welfare requirement notice to be completed by 4 January 2013 had not been met. This is because, although some steps have been put in place to improve the hygiene and safety standards in the setting, for example, reviewing the cleaning rotas and carrying out a deep clean of the setting and redecorating of one area, this is not fully effective and concerns and hazards remain, for example, ineffective systems to make radiators inaccessible, some toys and resources are unclean, some flooring is unclean and potentially hazardous and the risk assessment does record potential hazards and action taken to minimise these.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

The regulatory inspector found that the actions to be completed by 24 December 2012 have not all been met. This is because steps have been taken to reinforce the no smoking policy in practice, as additional signage is in place and the policy is to be reinforced to parents and staff and the systems for assessing suitability have been improved as a central record of CRB information is maintained. The designated person for safeguarding children has not attended appropriate training for the role, although you have enquired into the training. The systems for supervising and supporting staff have been reviewed and practice is observed by a named person, however, this does not enable staff to be fully supported in their development or to discuss issues pertaining to their role effectively enough. There organisation of the activity rooms and deployment of staff have been reviewed and this is in its infancy,

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

therefore it is not possible to gauge a true reflection of its impact on children. Staff explained that some resources have been purchased, however, these are few and furthermore, in some areas the range and quantity of resources to engage children in meaningful and enjoyable play is somewhat limited. The small outside area has been reviewed, although no planning is in place to utilise this to its optimum and the larger outside play area continues to lack inspiration.

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Overall effectiveness of the improvement and outcomes for children

An additional action was raised at this visit which asks you to ensure staff are aware that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warning which may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting)

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Next steps

Having considered all the evidence the inspector is of the opinion that at this time:

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Next steps

 The setting has made progress in addressing the points for improvement. The next visit will be a further monitoring visit. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Susan Gregory HMI National Director, Inspection Delivery Our Reference EY308855

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Next steps

EYL413 EY308855 For the attention of: Compliance, Investigation and Enforcement Team.

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Reply slip

Second Steps Day Nursery Durham Rd Laindon Essex SS15 6PJ

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ACTIONS

Please complete the box below to show what you have done in order to meet the action required:

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Action Required Action Taken Date Completed

ensure staff are aware that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warning which may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting) ensure the premises and equipment used for the purposes of childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (Suitability and safety of premises and Our Reference EY308855

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Action Required Action Taken Date Completed

EYL413 EY308855 equipment) (both parts of the Childcare Register) take action as specified above (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment). ensure that the designated practitioner with overall responsibility for safeguarding children attends an appropriate training course which enables them to identify, understand and respond appropriately to any signs of abuse or neglect put in place measures to supervise staff to provide support, coaching and training which fosters a culture of mutual support, teamwork and continuous improvement ensure that the premises, indoors and outside are fit for purpose and safe for children. Take steps to remedy identified risks and hazards, such as dirty and faulty equipment and areas, so that children are not exposed unnecessarily to hygiene and safety hazards improve educational programmes and provide sufficient, age-appropriate and stimulating, accessible resources so that all children have opportunities

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Action Required Action Taken Date Completed

EYL413 EY308855 to enjoy challenging and meaningful activities which engage and inspire them to make progress

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