Alpha Kids Day Nursery

Alpha Kids Day Nursery 39 Lea Bridge Road, LONDON, E5 9QB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 March 2015 7 October 2014

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Previous inspection: Inadequate 4 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Requires improvement The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Requires improvement The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Requires improvement The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The quality of teaching is variable, which means staff do not fully promote children's learning and development, particularly during adult-led activities.  Staff do not consistently promote children's sense of security and well-being because the key-person system is ineffective. As a result, some children are not able to form secure attachments and be entirely confident to explore their surroundings.  Although the provider has developed methods for planning and assessing children's progress, not all staff fully embed this process to help them identify and plan children's next steps in learning.

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It has the following strengths

 The provider has made many improvements since her last inspection. She has developed a clear action plan to help focus on ways to further improve the provision. This has been positively accepted by the staff team and has enhanced the outcomes for children attending.  Staff encourage healthy lifestyles by ensuring children have nutritionally healthy snacks and opportunities to access daily fresh air and physical exercise. Children are also learning to independently manage their personal care needs.  The provider promotes children's welfare by implementing effective systems for recruiting suitable staff and ensuring staff hold relevant qualifications.  Staff hold current paediatric first-aid certificates. They have a sufficient understanding of their responsibilities for safeguarding children and follow the nursery's safeguarding policy, including whom to contact for additional support, if necessary.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure the quality of teaching is consistent by encouraging all children to contribute during adult-led activities and allowing them to direct their own play to help children make effective progress  improve the key-person system to meet children's individual care and learning needs and to build effective relationships, to help them settle and feel secure, and share this information with parents.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the assessment arrangements further in order to regularly monitor children's progress and ensure all staff use this information effectively to plan children's next steps in learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in all group rooms and the outside play space.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held meetings with the provider.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider in the toddler and pre- school rooms.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation, staff suitability records, and policies and procedures.

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who attend. This requires improvement

Staff do not always use planning effectively to identify children's next steps and the quality of teaching is inconsistent at times. This is because some staff do not always notice when less confident children need further support or encouragement during adult-led activities. Nevertheless, staff has developed their knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage following their last inspection, due to the input from outside agencies. Therefore, children are making adequate progress. Staff provide children with suitable experiences to enhance their learning. Children visit the outdoor space in small groups to develop their social skills and staff ensure the environment is inclusive, by considering children's individual interests. Children enjoy using the large sheet as a canvas with paint brushes to develop their mark- making skills. Staff generally present resources sufficiently to engage children, especially

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who attend. This requires improvement

during child-initiated play, although some adults spend time directing children's play at times. The babies and toddlers play confidently and follow directions from staff well. This shows that children are suitably gaining some skills to prepare them for school.

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requires improvement

Staff interact with children in a warm and caring manner and adequately promote their emotional well-being. However, the key-person system is not robust to ensure children's individual needs are sensitively addressed, particularly during changes to their daily routine. Additionally, parents are not always sure who their child's key person is, but feel they can talk to any of the staff team. Despite this, children's behaviour is good and staff are developing suitable behaviour management strategies, which help children feel valued and respected. Overall, staff support the engagement of parents, by sharing daily information about their children's learning. Parents are complimentary about the setting and feel they can talk to the staff at any time about their child's progress.

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provision requires improvement

The nursery provision is managed adequately by committed leaders, therefore children benefit from being cared for in a safe environment. However, children's progress is hindered at times due to the lack of effective monitoring of teaching practice and the organisation of the key-person system. This results in children not consistently having their individual learning and care needs met. Nevertheless, the manager has developed the system for performance management. Consequently, staff now receive regular supervisions to ensure they reflect on their practice and raise the quality of teaching. Although, this area still needs further input due to the weaknesses identified, staff are beginning to make changes to improve outcomes for children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY443998 Local authority Hackney Inspection number 995394 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 27 Number of children on roll 29 Name of provider Alpha Kids Day Nursery Partnership Date of previous inspection 7 October 2014 Telephone number 02079989411

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Setting details

Alpha Kids Day Nursery registered in 2013. The nursery is located in the Clapton area, in the London Borough of Hackney. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The provider receives funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The provider employs eight staff. All staff hold appropriate qualifications, including six staff at level 3 and one staff at level 2. The provider has achieved Qualified Teacher Status.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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