West Monkton Pre-School

West Monkton Pre-School Victory Community Playgroup, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8NE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 January 2017 13 March 2014

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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 Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 Although the manager recognises that some staff intimidate children, and other staff have also raised concerns about this, the provider and manager have failed to implement the setting's safeguarding policy to protect children. This compromises children's emotional well-being.  The provider fails to ensure that staff manage children's behaviour appropriately. Some staff threaten children with punishment and exclude them from activities.  The new manager does not provide effective supervision and support for staff. She does not tackle weaknesses in staff practice immediately to improve outcomes for children. Induction training is ineffective. Not all staff understand their roles and responsibilities to support children's care and learning effectively.  The quality of teaching is poor overall. Staff know the children's interests and abilities but do not provide effective support or challenge children in their learning. Any learning

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This provision is inadequate

that takes place is incidental. Children do not make adequate progress.  The provider has failed to maintain continuous improvement of the provision. The new manager has not taken action in response to the most significant weaknesses she has identified. The quality of the provision has deteriorated since the last inspection.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff develop children's understanding of the world. For example, they talk to children about their experiences.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

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Due Date

 ensure that safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented to protect children at all times 17/02/2017

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Due Date

 ensure all staff manage children's behaviour in an appropriate way and do not threaten any punishment that could adversely affect a child's well-being 17/02/2017

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Due Date

 monitor staff practice effectively to identify any weaknesses, and provide effective support to improve staff's teaching skills 17/02/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that the induction training staff receive is effective in helping them to understand their roles and responsibilities 17/02/2017

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Due Date

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that staff use what they know about children's interests and abilities to tailor activities to meet children's individual needs and make sure that all children are effectively included and supported during planned activities. 17/02/2017

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the range of adult-led and child-led activities, inside and outside.  The inspector held a joint observation with the manager during an adult-led activity.  The inspector spoke to children and parents about their views of the provision.  The inspector held an interview with the manager.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including staff training and suitability records, children's learning and development files, and a selection of policies and procedures including those relating to safeguarding.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. Some staff use threats to manage children's behaviour. For example, they tell children that 'ghosts' or a 'police officer' will get them. This has a negative impact on children's well-being and their future safety. The manager has identified this poor practice and other staff have reported it. However, the manager has failed to follow the safeguarding policy and take prompt action to protect children's emotional security. The new staff team has completed child protection and first-aid training and received induction. Despite this, they do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities to improve outcomes for children. Staff do not receive effective support to improve the quality of teaching. The new manager is keen to make improvements and has plans, for example, to renovate the garden area to help children explore and investigate the natural environment. She monitors children's progress and shares her findings with

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

parents to help provide continuity in children's learning. However, she is not confident in her role and has not dealt with the most significant weaknesses in the provision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Although staff are qualified, they do not use their skills to interact, challenge or support children's learning to help them make sufficient progress. Staff are aware of children's interests and abilities but do not ensure all children are included or supported during activities. For example, staff sit with children but do not engage sufficiently with them to extend their learning. Sometimes, staff exclude children from activities that they want to join in. This has a negative effect on children's self-esteem and their motivation to learn. Children entertain themselves using available resources. For example, younger children play with musical instruments together. During the inspection, older children enjoyed an activity to make dough with which to play. They counted how many cups of flour and salt they needed, but staff did not allow them to play with the dough until the end of the session.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children's welfare is compromised. The provider fails to ensure that all staff support children's emotional well-being and manage their behaviour appropriately. Some children do not have access to the same opportunities as others. For example, some staff do not allow children to play in the tent. Children feel excluded and they do not fully understand staff's behaviour towards them. Children enjoy plenty of exercise in the garden. A range of books is provided for children to help develop their early reading skills. However, staff do not use their experience to make the book area more inviting and accessible for younger children, or show them how to handle books carefully.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not make the progress of which they are capable while in the pre-school. The skills and knowledge that they possess cannot be attributed to the teaching that they receive. Children enjoy their time with their friends but do not receive the support they need to build on what they know and can do, or to prepare them well for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 143078 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 1068528 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Victory Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 March 2014 Telephone number 01823 412068

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reference number

West Monkton Pre-School registered in 1992. The pre-school operates from the village hall in Monkton Heathfield, in Taunton, Somerset. The pre-school opens five days a week during term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm on Tuesday and Friday, and from 9.15am until 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are currently seven members of staff employed to work with the children, all of whom hold early years qualifications at level 2 or 3.

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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.

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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.

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reference number

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reference number

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