Poppets Pre-School (Little Wakering)

Poppets Pre-School (Little Wakering) St Edmunds Church Hall, Little Wakering Road, Southend On Sea, SS3 0JB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 April 2016 Not applicable

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision is inadequate

 The management team has failed to ensure that the correct procedures are followed when an allegation is made against a member of staff. They also failed to notify Ofsted and the appropriate authorities of the allegation within the required time period.  Staff do not supervise children well enough. As a result, they are left alone with visitors at the pre-school.  Staff do not always follow the pre-school's mobile phone procedures. They do not check that all visitors are aware that they are not able to use their mobile phone in the pre-school.  Staff do not always ensure their interactions take account of the differing needs, abilities and interests of children when engaging them in play activities. They do not consistently provide children with appropriate levels of challenge.  Staff do not provide children with consistent boundaries and clear explanations of what is acceptable behaviour to ensure they learn right from wrong.

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This provision is inadequate

 The management team's checking of staff's teaching practice is not good enough to ensure consistently good quality teaching throughout the pre-school.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff form positive partnerships with parents. They update them on their children's progress daily and provide parents with advice on how they can support learning at home.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 ensure that the procedures in relation to an allegation against a member of staff are understood and always followed 27/05/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that children are never left alone with visitors 27/05/2016  ensure that the mobile phone policy is adhered to at all times by staff and visitors to the pre-school 27/05/2016

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Due Date

 support staff in managing children's behaviour more effectively and help children to understand consistent boundaries and what is acceptable behaviour 27/05/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that staff interactions consistently take account of children's differing needs, capabilities and interests, and provide them with sufficient, appropriate levels of challenge. 27/06/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 improve the checking of staff's practice in order to raise the quality of teaching to consistently good levels.

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Inspection activities

 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about this provider.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the two pre-school managers and deputy manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's self-evaluation, evidence of the suitability of staff and children's learning records.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The management team and staff are well qualified. However, they have failed to ensure that children are appropriately protected from harm. The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Staff do not ensure that children are appropriately supervised at all times. Children enter rooms unaccompanied by staff where visitors are present. In addition, staff do not always ensure that visitors refrain from using their mobile phones in the pre-school. The provider has also failed to follow the correct procedures when an allegation is made against a member of staff. The provider and managers lack knowledge of what an allegation is and therefore do not notify all the relevant agencies, including Ofsted, when an allegation is made. These breaches of the legal requirements pose a significant risk to children's safety and well-being. The deputy manager evaluates the pre- school and has addressed some weaknesses. Staff attend regular training courses and

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

have already started to improve their knowledge of safeguarding procedures. The management team checks children's progress and identifies gaps so they can provide each child with support. However, the checking of staff's practice is not yet embedded well enough to achieve and maintain consistently good quality teaching throughout the pre- school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching is variable. Children enjoy their time at the pre-school and take part in enjoyable activities. However, staff do not consistently have high expectations of children in order to build on what children already know. Children sometimes become disinterested in activities as they are not stimulating enough or based around their individual interests. Staff observe the children in their play and make accurate assessments of what they can do. They plan next steps to build on children's development in the seven areas of learning. However, this information is not consistently used to provide children with appropriate levels of challenge. Staff sometimes lack knowledge of how to use high-quality interactions to engage and motivate all children. Older children are appropriately supported to develop their mathematical skills. Staff encourage children to count, recognise numerals and start to learn early adding and subtracting concepts.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Younger children develop their physical skills. They engage in activities, such as riding bikes, pouring water and manipulating malleable dough.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The breaches of the legal requirements for the mobile phone policy, allegations made against a member of staff and supervision of children around visitors have a significant negative impact on children's safety and welfare. Staff do not set clear, consistent boundaries for the children. Children distract others in their play and interrupt their own play as they are not given clear guidance from staff on how to share appropriately. When children disagree over toys and resources, staff take the toys away from them without supporting them to understand the impact their actions have on others. In instances where there are more resources available, staff do not obtain these for children to reduce the disagreements. Children have appropriate opportunities to experience fresh air and physical exercise. Children settle well and form close attachments to staff. Staff form successful partnerships with the local school. They share information about children's

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

learning and carry out activities, such as visiting the school to emotionally support children with the move. Staff support children who have special educational needs or disability appropriately. They get to know their individual needs, including health conditions, and attend training on how to effectively meet their needs.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Most children are making expected progress for their ages and stages of development. They are generally prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. However, due to the lack of consistent challenge from staff, not all children are making good progress from their starting points. Children develop appropriate levels of independence. They attend to their personal care needs, help to prepare snack and tidy away resources.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477226 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1048464 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 50 Name of provider Poppets Pre-School (Little Wakering) Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01702216120

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Setting details

Poppets Pre-School (Little Wakering) was registered in 2014. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff who all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports a small number of children who have special educational needs or disability.

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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

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Setting details

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