St Gabriel's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale

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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Apple Blossom Day Nursery Apple Blossom Day Nursery, London Road Strete Ralegh, Whimple EXETER EX5 2PT Our Reference 105825

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Linda Dawe, monitored your provision on 21/02/2014 following your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of our inspection on 18/11/2013, we sent you a notice to improve. The actions you were set are included at the end of this letter.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit the inspector discussed with you the steps you have taken to address the action raised in the notice to improve. She also had discussions with your deputy and spoke to the local authority Early Years Advisory Teacher. She reviewed your risk assessment, staff files, action plans and planning documents. She also carried out some observations of the premises, including checking food storage in the fridge.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that, while you have made sure that all staff on outings have a current paediatric first aid certificate, you have not considered all potential risks of taking children on outings. You have considered what to do if a child has an accident but not what to do should the bus break down. You have also not considered whether having the driver, who does not hold a childcare qualification, alone on the bus with children provides sufficient supervision of those children.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have reviewed the way that food is stored in your fridge and are now clear that raw meats should not be stored above other products. You have booked your staff onto a food hygiene course to update their knowledge of food safety procedures but this has not yet taken place. The inspector found products such as sauces, jams and mayonnaise in opened jars in your fridge. These products carry information about their disposal date following opening. However, you have no system in place to make sure that this happens. You acknowledged that you had not thought of this. Our Reference 105825

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Outcome of monitoring

You told the inspector that you have been working with the Early Years and Childcare Advisor who has visited your nursery. She has helped you to devise a plan of action to improve the use of assessments and to plan for children's next steps of learning more effectively. You have plans to restructure the staffing arrangements in each room but you have not put these plans into effect yet. You are proposing to appoint your deputy to be responsible for planning the educational programmes for the children as part of this restructure. You told the inspector that this should be in place by Easter. You have begun to introduce supervision sessions with your staff and are planning to conduct peer on peer observations to evaluate staff practice. However, you have not yet got systems in place to do this effectively. You told the inspector that you have not yet carried out formal observations of the staff's practice.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector looked at your planning and discussed the activities with you and your deputy. Through these discussions it is clear that you do not yet have a full understanding of how to implement the learning and development requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. You were unable to describe the learning intentions of the activities you plan. You were also unable to describe how you would plan activities to ensure that all children will make good progress in their learning and development. Your Early Years Advisory Teacher has made an appointment to return to provide you with more support in this area.

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Outcome of monitoring

You told the inspector that you have discussed with staff how to explain to children the consequences of their actions. During the inspection children were seen to be playing happily and there were no incidences of inappropriate behaviour. You describe how you work with parents to promote positive behaviour. However, the Early Years Advisory Teacher expressed concerns that the methods you are using may not be age appropriate.

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the setting has not taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement.

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Next steps

The next step will be a full inspection.

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Next steps

If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Nick Hudson National Director, Early Education Our Reference 105825

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the use of assessments and planned activities to promote children's next steps of learning more effectively 18/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure appropriate arrangements are implemented for the supervision of all staff who have contact with children to monitor their knowledge and understanding of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the impact of staff practice on children's care and learning 18/05/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure all food for children is stored hygienically and safely; in particular with regards to making sure foods are disposed of within recommended dates of opening 14/03/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

undertake a thorough risk assessment with regards to the use of the nursery minibus and identify the steps to be taken to remove, minimise and manage those risks and hazards. Ensure that this risk assessment includes consideration of adult to child ratios. 14/03/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise risks (compulsory part of Childcare Register) 14/03/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise risks (voluntary part of Childcare Register) 14/03/2014

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