Highgate Activity Nursery

Highgate Activity Nursery 1 Church Road, Highgate, London, N6 4QH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 July 2017 11 April 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

 There are weaknesses in the arrangements to safeguard children. Managers do not know the correct procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff. In addition, staff do not have a secure, up-to-date knowledge of child protection issues.  The provider does not ensure that the required Disclosure and Barring Service checks are completed for all staff. Unchecked staff are, at times, left unsupervised with children.  The front door is not always monitored effectively during arrival times. Visitors and parents open the door and allow others to enter, and staff do not always know which adults are on the premises. These safeguarding issues are also breaches of the requirements of the Childcare Register.  Staff do not make good use of ongoing assessment to monitor children's progress and plan for their future learning. Some activities lack challenge and do not engage

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This provision is inadequate

children's interest as staff use out-of-date assessment information when planning.  The manager does not review the quality of provision to identify all weakness. Leaders have not considered previous recommendations to make worthwhile changes.

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It has the following strengths

 Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff make time to share information about each child's day with their parents.  Staff support children to live a healthy lifestyle, for example, children are offered a range of healthy snacks and meals. Children also enjoy regular access to outside play.

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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:

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Due Date

 ensure all staff have current and valid Disclosure and Barring Service checks 26/08/2017

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Due Date

 ensure all staff maintain an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding matters, including the procedure to follow in case of an allegation against a member of staff and their responsibilities under the 'Prevent' duty 26/08/2017

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Due Date

 improve security arrangements to ensure that staff are aware of all parents and visitors on the premises 26/08/2017

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Due Date

 develop effective systems of assessment to gain a true understanding of children's abilities and to monitor their progress consistently over time to help plan interesting and challenging educational programmes. 26/08/2017

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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

 provide opportunities to further develop and promote children's independence, especially around mealtimes  develop effective systems of self-evaluation to identify and act on all weaknesses in practice and to improve the quality of the setting.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors. She assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She discussed self-evaluation and looked at relevant documentation, policies and procedures.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to parents and children, and took their views into account.  The inspector had a tour of the premises.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. Managers are not aware of the procedure to follow in case of an allegation against a member of staff or the correct procedure for reporting concerns about children's welfare. Arrangements to determine the suitability of staff are not secure. Unchecked staff are sometimes left alone with children. Managers have not ensured staff have a secure and up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding. Staff are not aware of their responsibility to protect children from the risk of extreme views and behaviours. The main entrance is not supervised effectively by staff, and parents and visitors hold the door open for others. As a result, the manager and staff do not always know which adults are on the premises. This compromises children's safety. Self-evaluation is weak. Managers do not monitor the quality of the setting effectively and do not accurately target support for staff to continually improve their skills and knowledge.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff do not check children's abilities regularly enough to accurately determine their abilities and interests. This results in activities being planned that do not challenge children well and do not reflect their interests. Overall, teaching is weak. Mathematics and literacy skills are not consistently developed well. Staff do not consistently extend children's learning. Children lose interest in activities and do not progress as well as possible. However, there are some activities that children enjoy and join in enthusiastically. For example, they concentrate well during a session to learn Spanish and they are focused as they listen to stories. Staff have developed positive relationships with parents and speak to them about what their children have done each day. Staff also work effectively with other professionals. For example, they implement recommendations and strategies made by outside agencies.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The weaknesses in safeguarding, and lax security around arrival time, mean that children's welfare is not adequately considered or promoted by managers and staff. Nevertheless, children's physical and emotional development is promoted effectively. Children benefit from outside play and fresh air. For example, they use wheeled vehicles and run around the garden. Children are emotionally supported by caring staff. They learn about healthy lifestyles, for example, through healthy food and regular exercise. Children are encouraged and taught to be respectful to others.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Overall, children's progress is not good enough and they are not prepared well for their future learning and for starting school. The lack of challenge means that children do not develop some of the practical skills they may need for school, such as how to use cutlery. The outcomes for children who have special educational needs are better as they benefit from the coordinated work that takes place with other professionals.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 140420 Local authority Haringey Inspection number 1061441 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 - 5 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Activity Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 April 2013 Telephone number (0208) 348-9248

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reference number

Highgate Activity Nursery registered in 1989. The nursery is situated in the Highgate area of North London. It is open all year round except for one week over Easter and two weeks during both the Christmas and summer holiday periods. The nursery is open from 8am until 6pm on weekdays. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four- year-olds. There are eight members of permanent staff working with the children. The manager holds a qualification at level 4, one member of staff holds qualified teacher status, and six staff hold qualifications from level 2 to level 4.

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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

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

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