Kindred Harlow

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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Dizzy Ducks Day Nursery Ltd Harlow Leisurezone Second Avenue Harlow Essex CM20 3DT Our Reference EY399612

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Jo Rowley, monitored your provision on 06/06/2014 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 20/03/2014, we sent you a notice to improve. If you were set actions at the inspection, or as a result of our subsequent monitoring or investigations, these are included at the end of this letter unless we have already verified that they have been completed.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit, the inspector talked with the nursery manager and the director of operations and childcare about the steps you have taken to address the actions raised in the notice to improve. The inspector looked at the action plan, observed activities and staff interaction with children. The inspector spoke to individual members of staff during the monitoring visit and observed children, both inside and outside during their play. She also observed staff practice and discussed planning documentation with some staff. Observations and assessments of children, which staff are in the process of rewriting, were also looked at during the monitoring visit.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have created robust procedures for recording any accidents that occur within the setting. A new procedure, which you have implemented, ensures that management are quickly informed of any incidents that take place. A manager's signature is now required to witness the recording of an accident. Consequently, children's health and well-being are supported and accident records are completed in a timely manner.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector looked at a range of learning journals, some observations of children at play and planning documentation, as well as observing staff practice. The inspector found that, although staff are completing regular observations, these are not being used effectively to identify children's next steps in learning. For example, staff are evaluating observations every six weeks to form a progress report for parents. The progress report identifies the next steps in children's learning and these are then incorporated into the planning. However, with six weekly intervals between progress reports, the identifying of children's next steps is not effective in promoting sufficient challenge and therefore, staff are not promoting children's progress and achievements against all areas of learning.

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Outcome of monitoring

During observations, the inspector noted that some staff use open-ended questioning to encourage children's thinking further. However, not all staff ensure that this technique is used and less experienced, less confident staff are not effectively supported to promote children's communication and language skills. This means that staff have yet to improve their teaching strategies to enhance children's learning and development.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that the management team carry out regular supervision meetings with staff to discuss training needs and opportunities. They have taken action to support staff knowledge and understanding by promoting opportunities for them to attend further training. However, this setting is struggling to make improvements without further support and they have not taken sufficient prompt and effective action to improve the weaknesses in practice.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that the local authority advisers have been very supportive of the nursery. They have worked together to develop the staff's knowledge and understanding of planning to ensure that children's learning and development is promoted. New observation and planning procedures have been implemented and all staff have received some guidance, through supervision and team meetings, to support their understanding of these new systems.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit, the inspector observed that some children's behaviour was consistently challenging. Not all children were engaged in activities and staff demonstrated a lack of understanding of the behaviour management strategies in place to promote and manage children's positive behaviour. As a result, children are not learning about appropriate ways in which to behave and staff are not providing consistent messages to support children's understanding of staff expectations.

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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

We will take enforcement action to ensure compliance with children’s welfare and/or learning and development requirements. 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

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Action Due date Closed date

make use of ongoing observation and assessment of each child's progress against all seven areas of learning; taking account of their starting points, age and stage of development and use this information to identify the next steps in their learning 12/05/2014 06/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that an accurate written record of accidents or injuries and of any first aid treatment given is completed at the time of an incident 12/05/2014 06/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that the monitoring of the setting identifies the weaknesses in practice and provides effective support and coaching for staff to promote the interests of the children. 12/05/2014 06/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve teaching strategies by; ensuring staff consistently give children thinking time to put their thoughts into words to further support children's language development; supporting less experienced staff to enhance children's learning through consistently good interactions and the use of open-ended questions 12/05/2014 06/06/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

make use of ongoing observation and assessment of each child's progress against all seven areas of learning; taking account of their starting points, age and stage of development and use this information to identify the next steps in their learning 18/07/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve teaching strategies by; ensuring staff consistently give children thinking time to put their thoughts into words to further support children's language development; supporting less experienced staff to enhance children's learning through consistently good 18/07/2014 interactions and the use of open-ended questions develop clear and effective strategies for managing children's behaviour, which all staff implement; ensure that children understand expectations and learn to take responsibility for their behaviour. 18/07/2014

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