Cheeky Monkeys

Cheeky Monkeys Earls Colne Golf & Leisure, Airfield, Earls Colne, Colchester, CO6 2NS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 April 2017 4 February 2015

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 The quality of teaching is variable due to recent staffing changes. Although every child has a key person, staff are not always effectively deployed to promote high-quality interactions and to support children's learning throughout each day.  The manager is not consistently checking that all key persons complete the required progress check for children aged between two and three years.  Staff do not always use effective ways to encourage children to think for themselves and express their ideas and understanding.

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It has the following strengths

 Children and babies confidently make independent choices in their play as they select from a varied range of resources, both indoors and outside. Additional funding is spent wisely to enhance children's skills using technology.  Staff are warm and caring. They effectively support children's growing understanding of how to keep themselves safe and healthy. Children eat nutritious meals and any special dietary requirements are catered for.  Parents make very positive comments about the service and quality of care provided by staff. They say they feel involved in their children's learning when they contribute observations of their children's learning at home and join the nursery for special events.  Appropriate partnerships are established with outside agencies and other professionals to support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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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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Due Date

 ensure that staff are more effectively deployed and can focus on supporting children's learning and development throughout each day 26/05/2017

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Due Date

 improve the process for completing the progress check for children aged between two and three years and provide parents with a written summary. 26/05/2017

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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

 support staff to enhance their skills and extend opportunities for children to think deeply, share their ideas and use expressive language.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities both indoors and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and held discussions with the nominated person, manager, staff and children.  The inspector viewed a sample of the children's development records.  The inspector saw evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the staff, the self- evaluation, risk assessments and policies and procedures.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. Management and staff are vigilant about the safety of the children and carry out regular risk assessments of the premises. Prompt action is taken when incidents occur. For example, additional safety measures are installed to ensure that children always remain within staff's sight and hearing. Management and staff have a secure knowledge of the correct procedures to follow if they have child protection concerns. Effective vetting, induction and supervision arrangements ensure that staff remain suitable. Staff are encouraged to raise the level of their qualifications and continually update their knowledge through training and regular meetings. Several staff have recently left the nursery and the provider is currently recruiting new staff. Nonetheless, the minimum required staffing ratios are met as staff from the sister settings step in to provide cover. However, the instability of the staff team means that not enough

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

focus is placed on supporting children's learning and development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff provide a broad range of activities to promote children's development across the areas of learning. Children relish the chance to investigate and experiment with natural materials. Staff use appropriate assessment to ensure they know children's interests and capabilities. However, not all the required progress checks are completed and shared with parents in a timely way. At times, staff are fully stretched dealing with domestic duties and children's care needs and learning are hindered. There are sometimes delays in organising and setting up resources. Activities and conversations are often interrupted.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children and babies are happy and settled. They cheerfully greet familiar staff and quickly build attachments with the new staff caring for them. Staff are sensitive role models and demonstrate considerate behaviour. They calmly negotiate any minor disagreements that children have. Children are beginning to learn to take turns, show respect and share resources. Babies have ample space to crawl and develop their physical skills. Older children adeptly practise their coordination skills. There are also opportunities for the older children to go on outings and take part in interesting woodland activities.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Most of the children are making progress that is typical for their age. The older children are confidently developing the skills they need in readiness for starting school. They capably develop their independence skills and manage their own personal care needs. They confidently count, recognise numbers and learn about different letters and sounds. However, the weaknesses in teaching and assessment do not ensure that activities always engage children, particularly those aged two and three years, at the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY377817 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1093516 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 - 9 Total number of places 66 Number of children on roll 73 Name of registered person The Childcare Personnel Company Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 February 2015 Telephone number 07881 531765

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reference number

Cheeky Monkeys was registered in 2008 and is one of three settings run by the same limited company. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, one member of staff holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5, three staff hold a qualification at level 4, six staff hold a qualification at level 3 and one member of staff holds a qualification at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Opening times are from 7am until 7pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports children who have special educational needs or disabilities.

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

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