Baby Room Balham

Baby Room Balham 22-23 The Boulevard, 205 Balham High Road, London, SW17 7BW

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 December 2016 15 December 2015

p.1

3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

p.1

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

 The provider has not ensured that the premises are secure at all times. The front door does not always close fully and, on some occasions, it is left ajar and unattended by staff. This compromises children's safety and is also a breach of the Childcare Register.  Management is not fully effective at supporting staff practice and addressing inconsistencies in teaching. Not all staff who work directly with the children are made fully aware of all their individual learning needs to help them consistently meet these.  The systems for assessing, monitoring and planning for children's progress are not precise, to help staff to support children's consistent progress. In addition, the manager and staff do not effectively obtain parents' views on children's starting points.  Self-evaluation is not thorough. The management team does not address identified weaknesses effectively to meet all requirements of the early years foundation stage.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Staff stimulate children's interest in books. For example, they encourage them to join in repetitive phrases and provide opportunities for children to listen to recorded stories.  Staff help children learn to resolve sharing issues and to take account of the needs of others. This helps children build further on their social skills.  Staff provide opportunities for children to explore different media and materials. For example, older children use feathers and leaves for their artwork and younger children explore play dough.

p.1

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:

p.2

Due Date

 take appropriate steps to ensure that unauthorised persons cannot gain access to the premises at any time 07/12/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that all staff working directly with children understand their individual learning needs, to help provide consistently strong teaching and make sure children consistently enjoy quality learning experiences 15/12/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure effective systems are in place to assess, monitor and plan for children's learning, including making best use of information that parents share when children start at the nursery. 15/12/2016

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 improve self-evaluation to effectively identify and promptly address weaknesses in practice.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspection was carried out following a risk assessment process.  The inspector observed children and their interactions with the staff.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and children.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and held discussions about children's learning and progress, and staff practice.  The inspector looked at a sample of documents including children's learning records.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The manager does not consistently minimise identified risks to children's safety. For example, on some occasions, she does not ensure that the front door always closes securely to prevent unauthorised persons from entering the premises. The manager does not monitor staff's performance consistently. For example, staff do not all consistently receive effective support to develop all aspects of their teaching practice and help them deliver quality learning experiences to children. The manager has used self-evaluation to make some improvements. For example, she has started monitoring children's progress, although this is still not yet fully effective. Nevertheless, appropriate support is in place for children learning English as an additional language, which helps reduce gaps in their learning. The manager establishes close links with local schools and this helps children's move on to school go smoothly. Safeguarding is effective. Management monitors staff's

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

ongoing suitability and ensures they have a clear understanding of child protection issues.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff complete some observations and assessments of children's progress, however this is not yet fully effective. For example, not all staff looking after babies have detailed information about parents' views on their children's likes and dislikes to help them plan enjoyable experiences for them. Teaching is inconsistent. Nonetheless, staff provide opportunities for older children to develop their mathematical skills such as learning to represent numbers using their fingers. They encourage young children's creativity, for example toddlers enjoy exploring musical instruments. Staff reinforce babies' babbling and describe what they do which helps support their early communication skills.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children's safety is not assured at all times, as the front door is not kept secure, although staff supervise children well within their room bases. Staff do not consistently teach children to build on their independence skills such as learning to put on their shoes and coats. High staff turnover has resulted in changes to key-person arrangements. For example, not all staff are aware of all of the needs of the children with whom they work. Nonetheless, children are happy and settled. Children develop a healthy lifestyle. For example, they regularly enjoy exercise both indoors and outdoors. They build confidence in trying new experiences such as learning to ride wheeled equipment. Any accidents are appropriately treated and recorded by staff who hold first-aid qualifications.

p.3

Outcomes for children require improvement

Children do not always make best possible progress form their starting points. However, all children learn to share and respect each other. They enjoy using technological equipment. Older children develop skills that prepare them for their move to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY423833 Local authority Wandsworth Inspection number 1078769 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 59 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Baby Room Nurseries Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 December 2015 Telephone number 0208 675 7276

p.4

reference number

Baby Room Balham registered in 2011. It is located in Balham in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The nursery is open on weekdays from 8am to 6.30pm, all year round, except for one week at Christmas and on bank holidays. The provider employs 13 members of staff who work directly with the children, 11 of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications. Of these, two hold early years professional status, two hold qualifications at level 6, two at level 5 and five at level 3.

p.4

reference number

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.4

reference number

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.4

reference number

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.5

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5