Active Kids Nursery

Active Kids Nursery Sundon Park Centre, Hill Rise, Luton, LU3 3EE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 August 2017 10 March 2017

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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

 Children's safety is compromised. Assessments of risks are not sufficiently robust and do not always include all areas. The action taken is not always effective to protect children from risk of harm, such as access to hazardous substances or items.  There is not always a staff member on site who holds a current paediatric first-aid qualification. This compromises children's health and safety in an emergency situation.  Staff do not make good use of their assessments of children's progress to plan their next steps in learning and to inform the planning of challenging play experiences. As a result, children do not make sufficient progress.  Some equipment is not suitable and poses a risk to children. For example, a cot mattress is too small for the cot and staff are sometimes not able to correctly fit the safety harnesses on high chairs.  The nursery owner does not ensure that all staff know how to recognise signs that

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This provision is inadequate

children may be at risk from extreme views or practices.

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It has the following strengths

 Children follow the example set by staff and are kind and caring towards one another. For example, they happily take turns when using outdoor play equipment.  Staff use effective methods to communicate with parents so that they know what their children have been doing. For example, monthly newsletters give information about some of the activities.

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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 that risk assessments cover all areas, consistently include the measures to be taken to minimise or remove risks, making sure that staff are aware of these assessments and know the action they need to take 21/08/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that there is at least one person who has a current paediatric first-aid certificate on the premises and available at all times 21/08/2017

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Due Date

 make sure that the assessments made of children's learning are accurately used to develop their next steps in learning, and use this information to inform the daily planning of challenging experiences for all children 04/09/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that all equipment and resources on the premises are fit for purpose and suitable for children to use 21/08/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that all staff have a clear knowledge of how to protect children from extreme views and practices, and that they understand how to respond appropriately. 04/09/2017

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector talked with children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. She completed a joint observation with the nursery owner.  The inspector held meetings with the nursery owner, the temporary manager (covering for staff holiday) and permanent manager. She looked at relevant documentation, discussed the nursery's self-evaluation and saw evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents and carers during the inspection and took account of their views. She also viewed written feedback from parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The owner, manager and staff do not sufficiently assess all risks to children and have failed to put appropriate measures in place to protect them. On the day of the inspection, children were able to access cleaning fluids stored in a room leading off the ground floor playroom. There are occasions when there is no staff member present with a current paediatric first-aid qualification. Staff understand how to recognise and report signs of abuse or neglect. They are also aware of how to report any concerns about the practice of other staff. The nursery owner and manager understand how to protect children from extreme views or practices. However, they have not made sure that all staff have this knowledge. The manager works in partnership with the owner and uses some of her knowledge from her qualification. She has supported the owner in ensuring that actions from the previous inspection have been

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

addressed. There are now appropriate procedures for staff supervision and staff are supported in accessing training. However, despite this qualification and their ongoing self- evaluation, the manager and owner have not noted the serious gaps in staff's wider safeguarding knowledge and in risk-assessing, and the inconsistencies in planning. Additionally, some equipment is not always fit for children to use. There are appropriate procedures to work in partnership with other childcare settings so that children's care is consistent. Access to the nursery is secure and records and paperwork are handled appropriately, helping to protect these elements of children's safety and confidentiality. There are also robust procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Children do not make sufficient progress as the quality of teaching is poor with regard to the use of assessments. Staff have received support and training since their last inspection. They now complete the progress check for children aged between two and three years and have improved the quality of the observations they make. They ensure that these provide a basic picture of children's current interests and developmental stages. They also ensure that children now play with resources that are appropriate for their age. Although staff observe children and assess their progress, they do not use this information effectively to inform the planning of stimulating and challenging play opportunities. For example, children participate in a drawing activity. They use crayons to make marks on paper, but quickly become restless and move away from the activity as this does not offer sufficient challenge and does not link to their interests. Children do enjoy some simple

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

activities. Children playing with water use different containers to scoop and pour. The owner and manager have basic procedures in place to monitor children's progress. These do not successfully identify the poor progress made by some children. However, they have implemented some procedures to support children in learning to read. Some staff have attended training in this area and use their new knowledge to help older children start to recognise letters and words.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The failure to consistently use effective measures to keep children safe has a negative impact on children's daily safety and well-being. However, the owner and manager have taken some positive steps to address the actions from their previous inspection. Each child now has a key person, parents have been informed of this and other staffing arrangements. The key person works with parents to obtain initial information about children and uses this to help them settle. Key persons and other staff ensure that children's care needs are met. For example, nappies are changed regularly, children are supported to eat snacks and meals, any allergies or dietary requirements are observed. Staff now manage children's behaviour appropriately. They talk with children and help them to understand how their actions affect others. Staff help children understand how to keep themselves healthy. Children wash their hands before eating and staff talk with them

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

about using soap and rubbing all areas of their hands to make sure they are clean. Children use outdoor equipment, such as ride-on toys and the slide, which support their physical development.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are not supported well enough to make sufficient progress. However, children do gain some skills that support their learning and help to prepare them for school. For example, older children enjoy searching for bugs and insects and talk to each other about what they have found.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY497699 Local authority Luton Inspection number 1096845 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 1 - 3 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Active Kids Nursery Ltd.

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 March 2017 Telephone number 07552774277

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reference number

Active Kids Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. They provide care for children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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