Pumpkin Patch Day Nursery

Pumpkin Patch Day Nursery 166 Alexandra Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6RY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 July 2017 8 August 2013

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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

 The provider has failed to ensure that the required adult-to-child ratios are maintained at all times. Staff have to care for too many children and are unable to meet their needs.  There is an insufficient number of qualified staff working with the children in the morning. Staff are not deployed effectively to provide adequate supervision and support for children, and they are not alert to children taking risks that compromise their safety.  The key-person approach is not effective or managed well throughout the nursery. Not all staff know the children they care for sufficiently well to support their care and learning needs.  Some staff's teaching practice is poor. Not all staff support children adequately or provide them with a range of stimulating activities. They do not support children's next steps in learning purposefully and to help them gain all the skills they need for school.  The provider does not use self-evaluation processes effectively to identify and target all

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This provision is inadequate

breaches of requirement, to provide a good-quality provision.

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It has the following strengths

 Children have access to a welcoming outside play area, which allows them to explore and play independently.  Suitable recruitment procedures are in place to help ensure staff working with the children are suitable to do so.  Parents comment positively on the nursery and the staff caring for their children.

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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 the required adult-to-child ratios are maintained at all times to ensure children's needs are met 14/08/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that there are suitably qualified staff working with the children, and that staff are deployed effectively to supervise and meet children's needs at all times 14/08/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that the key-person system is effective in ensuring children's care is tailored to their individual needs 14/08/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that staff provide good-quality learning experiences based on children's individual interests and needs to help them make good progress in their learning. 14/08/2017

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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

 use self-evaluation effectively to identify any breaches of requirements, and take action to improve the quality of the provision.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's involvement in activities within the nursery and outside. She looked at a sample of children's records and discussed these with staff.  The inspection was carried out following the risk assessment process.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and spoke to children where appropriate.  The inspector looked at and discussed documentation in relation to safeguarding, risk assessments and daily attendance registers.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

There have been many staff changes since the last inspection and a new manager has just been appointed. The provider has failed to ensure the required adult-to-child ratios are met. For example, at the beginning of the day there are insufficient staff on duty to care and meet the needs of the children. Safeguarding is ineffective. Staff are not deployed effectively to meet children's needs, and unqualified staff are left in sole charge of groups of children. Staff have an understanding of child protection procedures and are aware of the referral systems if they have a concern about a child's welfare. The provider provides staff with supervision, appraisals and training and checks children's progress regularly. However, the provider fails to ensure that staff use their teaching skills effectively to support children's learning. Staff share some useful information with parents and professionals to help provide some continuity of care for children. Self-evaluation is

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

ineffective in identifying breaches of requirement, although the provider demonstrates a strong commitment to improvement.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Teaching is inconsistent and at times weak in providing adequate support for all children. At times, some children miss out on learning opportunities and they are not encouraged to participate in play or group activities. Furthermore, some children are left without anything to do or purposeful support, which results in them wandering aimlessly around. Some staff do not organise play experiences adequately. For example, at times, younger children are left to their own devices with very little to do and a child began climbing on the chairs. In addition, some older children are left out of group activities, such as story times, due to staff not noticing. Some staff know the children's interests and abilities from their observations and assessments; however, this is not consistent. For example, not all staff are aware of what children know and can do as they do not work in their base rooms and are just covering until other staff start their shifts.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children's well-being is compromised due to the weaknesses in safeguarding practice and poor adult-to-child ratios. Staff deployment is poor and some staff are not able to supervise children adequately. For example, staff did not notice when a toddler climbed up on and slide over tables to get a tissue, and younger children with newly developed walking skills climb on steps and furniture unnoticed. The key-person approach is not effective and not all staff know children well enough to meet their needs. Generally, staff support positive behaviour. For example, staff encourage children to share and they reward manners with praise. Children receive healthy and nutritious foods and staff support hygiene routines well. The premises are suitable to meet children's welfare.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Weaknesses in the quality of teaching and leadership impact on outcomes for children. Children's learning is limited because staff are unable to support challenge and extend their learning. At times, children are not engaged in purposeful play and lack stimulation.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY363805 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1108430 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Pumpkin Patch Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 August 2013 Telephone number 01252 545898

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reference number

Pumpkin Patch Day Nursery registered in 2008. It is privately owned and is one of two nurseries. The nursery operates from a private house in Farnborough, Hampshire. It is open from 8am to 6pm on Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged three and four years. The nursery employs 13 full-time and part-time staff plus the cook. Over half the staff have appropriate early years qualifications.

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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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reference number

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