Meadowside Preschool Nursery

Meadowside Preschool Nursery Meadowside Nursery, Meadow Croft, Stoke On Trent, ST3 3DT

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 March 2016 Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 The provider and staff do not fully consider the safety of children. Staff's knowledge of safeguarding and child protection is limited. Risk assessment procedures do not ensure equipment in the outdoor area is safe and fit for purpose. Staff recruitment procedures are not robust. As a result, children are not adequately protected.  The provider has failed to notify Ofsted that the management of the setting has changed. It does not have an appointed manager in place.  The monitoring of planning and assessment is not sufficiently rigorous to identify gaps in children's learning. Therefore, children's progress is hindered as staff do not plan activities that are engaging or that meet the needs of the different ages and abilities of children taking part.  Staff do not receive effective support and coaching from the provider to raise their practice to at least a good level.  Younger children do not routinely experience daily outdoor play and fresh air to support

p.1

This provision is inadequate

their health and physical development.  Self-evaluation is not fully in place. As a result, key weaknesses in the provision have not been identified and addressed. This has a significant impact on children's well- being, safety and the progress they make in their learning.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Staff work well with other professionals. As a result, disabled children and those with special educational needs are appropriately supported.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that all staff have appropriate training with regard to safeguarding, so that they are knowledgeable about the signs of possible abuse or neglect and the procedure to follow to keep children safe from possible harm 25/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that risk assessments are robust and identify all aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis, and take prompt action to remove or minimise any identified risks, particularly in the outdoor area 25/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure Disclosure and Barring Service checks are completed on every person working on the premises 25/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 record information on vetting procedures that have been completed, with particular regard to references 25/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 take all reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the premises 25/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure the performance management processes identifies training, coaching and support needed to improve the quality of teaching 06/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 plan and provide daily outdoor activities for babies and toddlers as part of a healthy lifestyle. 06/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that Ofsted are notified of the appointment of a new manager 31/03/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that adult-led activities are closely tailored to children's individual needs in order to consistently support children to make good progress and take into account the different ways that children learn 29/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 monitor the assessments of children's learning undertaken by staff to ensure they are accurate and identify any gaps in children's learning. 06/05/2016 To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

Due Date

 develop the process of self-evaluation to identify any weaknesses in the provision and act on these to ensure that the outcomes for children are significantly improved.

p.3

Inspection activities

 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 assistant deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to the provider and senior staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as policies and procedures, and checked for evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are ineffective. Staff's knowledge and understanding of safeguarding are limited. They were unaware of the range of signs and symptoms of abuse. Children are not kept safe as parents are able to enter and allow visitors into the premises without the knowledge of a member of staff. The provider has failed to notify Ofsted about the appointment of a new manager and subsequent changes of manager. Recruitment procedures are not thorough. Checks completed are inadequate to fully establish staff suitability. Staff employed to carry out maintenance on the nursery have not been appropriately vetted to ensure their suitability to work on the premises when children are present. Leaders do not adequately review the quality of the provision. They do not have an overview of the provision's current weaknesses. This means they are unable to identify and address what needs to improve. There are systems in place to

p.4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

monitor staff performance and provide training. However, they do not focus sufficiently on the quality of teaching in order to target support and coaching where it is most needed.

p.4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff gather information from parents about what their child knows and can do during a settling-in period. This helps staff to identify children's starting points and to support children who speak English as an additional language. Staff regularly observe children and identify their next steps in learning. They track children's progress and regularly share information with parents. However, they have not consistently identified gaps in children's learning. Staff do not differentiate activities to address children's individual needs or to build on children's knowledge and skills. For example, planning does not build on children's individual next steps in learning. All children are provided with the same adult- led activities with little consideration for children of different abilities. As a result, there is no clear progression. Disabled children and those with special educational needs are provided with additional support and follow targeted intervention plans, and so do make

p.4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children behave well. They are confident, happy and enjoy playing at the nursery. However, risk assessment procedures are not effective enough to ensure children's safety. The outside area is not well maintained. There are some fenced areas, not accessible to children providing a wide range of learning opportunities. However, they are overgrown and have containers of dirty water and broken equipment in them. Areas that are accessible to children contain limited play equipment and unsuitable resources. For example, children climb on small plastic tables and the shed containing other resources is in a state of disrepair. There is an outdoor area for younger children, however, it is not in use due to its poor condition. Babies are not taken outside. Children are able to freely choose from a limited range of resources, indoors and outdoors. Staff interactions with children are limited and many activities are mundane and lack challenge. As a result,

p.4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

children are not always fully engaged in good quality, purposeful learning experiences. Children are provided with healthy and nutritious snacks and meals. They are learning to manage their own personal hygiene and understand the need to ensure their hands are clean. Partnerships with parents have been established and there is regular sharing of information about children's care. Parents are happy with the service provided.

p.4

Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children requiring additional support are provided with activities delivered by a qualified teacher for one day a week. She teaches them some basic skills, such as learning to recognise numbers. However, children are not effectively supported to make good progress in their learning overall. Therefore, they are not adequately prepared for the next stage in their learning or school.

p.5

Setting details

Unique reference number EY479663 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 990671 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 0 - 11 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 58 Name of provider KOB Enterprises Ltd. Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01782599177

p.6

Setting details

Meadowside Preschool Nursery was registered in 2014. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, and six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. One member of staff has qualified teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday for 51 weeks a year. Sessions are from 7.15am until 5.45pm. It supports children with special educational needs or disability, and children who speak English as an additional language.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.7

Setting details

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

p.7