Little O'Fee's Childcare

Little O'Fee's Childcare Amners Farm, Burghfield, Reading, RG30 3UE

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 September 2017 Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 Children's safety is significantly compromised. The provider does not ensure that children play in safe spaces or that unauthorised persons are unable to gain access to the premises. Staff fail to eliminate risks and do not deploy themselves effectively to ensure children's safety.  Procedures for checking staff’s ongoing suitability are weak. The provider does not implement effective systems to ensure that staff are, and remain suitable.  Staff understanding of safeguarding is poor. The provider, who is the designated person for safeguarding, has not attended training and has insufficient knowledge to action the role adequately. The safeguarding policy lacks the required details.  Performance of staff is not managed well. The provider is unclear on her role and fails to monitor the provision. She does not conduct staff inductions, supervisions or address weaknesses in teaching. The provider fails to ensure there are suitably qualified staff

p.1

This provision is inadequate

on the premises and that a first aider is always present on the school run.  Key persons do not meet children's individual needs or fulfil their role in ensuring that they offer a settled relationship for the child.  The provider fails to maintain a record of children's attendance. She does not meet a number of requirements of the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register. This places children at risk of serious harm.  Teaching is weak and staff do not plan activities or interact appropriately with children. Assessments are not completed. Children do not make the progress they should.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Children enjoy freshly prepared and nutritious meals.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

We intend to take steps to suspend registration and will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that effective risk assessments are undertaken to identify, check and remove hazards to children's safety, with particular regard to resources accessible by young children, risks in the garden and overall security of the premises 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that children are adequately supervised at all times, that staff are deployed effectively so that children's needs are met, and that children cannot be left on their own with visitors 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 implement effective systems to ensure that staff are, and remain, suitable to work with children, with particular regard to ensuring that clear and complete information is obtained concerning offences committed by staff or members of their household, so that appropriate measures can be taken to manage suitability and any potential risk to children 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that the designated lead for safeguarding has attended a suitable child protection course enabling them to effectively identify and respond to signs of possible abuse and neglect and so that they are capable of providing support, advice and guidance to staff 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 implement a policy and procedures to safeguard children that is in line with guidance and procedures of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Board that includes an explanation of the action to be taken when there are safeguarding concerns about a child and in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, and covers the safe use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all staff understand safeguarding policy and procedures and have up-to date knowledge of safeguarding issues, including knowledge of how to identify and respond to possible signs of abuse and neglect, and of the Prevent duty guidance 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 implement an effective induction process and provide appropriate support, supervision and training to staff to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities and are able to promote the interests of children 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure at least one person who has a current paediatric first-aid certificate accompanies children on outings, with particular regard to when children travel on the mini-bus 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that the ratio and qualification requirements are met, with 25/09/2017 particular regard to ensuring that there are sufficient qualified staff present at all times  implement an effective key-person system so that each key person fulfils their role in ensuring that each child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs, they offer a settled relationship for the child and build a relationship with parents 25/09/2017

p.2

Due Date

 maintain a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance, and the names of the key persons who care for them. 25/09/2017

p.3

Due Date

 take all reasonable steps to ensure that unauthorised persons are unable to access the premises and that children are not able to leave the premises unsupervised 25/09/2017

p.3

Due Date

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

p.3

Due Date

 plan challenging and enjoyable experiences that cover all the areas of learning and development effectively, taking account of the individual needs, interests and stage of development of each child, including those who need more support 13/10/2017

p.3

Due Date

 ensure staff use observation and assessment to accurately identify where children are in their learning and what they need to learn next, and keep parents and carers involved in children's care and learning so they are regularly informed about their child's progress 13/10/2017

p.3

Due Date

 monitor the educational programmes effectively to identify and target weaker aspects of children's learning, including the quality of staff interactions, to improve outcomes for all children. 13/10/2017

p.3

Inspection activities

 The inspection took place following Ofsted's risk assessment process.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their written views.

p.4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. Staff do not recognise that there are substantial hazards to children, indoors and outside. For example, on the day of the inspection, staff failed to remove small sections of discarded balloon, which littered the outside area where the youngest children play. Inside, young children have unsupervised access to small objects, such as chunks of broken crayon and small toys, which are scattered on the floor in the main play space and present a choking hazard. In addition, the provider has failed to recognise the risks posed by the main door, even though she has received a number of complaints about the security of the premises. This door continues to be a security risk as it remains unlocked from the inside. On the day of the inspection, an older child moved to open it and let in a visitor. The provider fails to maintain the required staffing ratios and does not ensure staffing arrangements are effective at all times to keep children safe and

p.5

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

meet their needs. For example, at times, there was only one unqualified member of staff with a large group of very young children playing outside. In addition, on occasions the poor deployment of staff inside leads to children being out of staff sight, with easy access to the unsecured front door or left in the care of visitors to the setting. This places children at significant risk. The provider shows a poor understanding of her responsibility to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. She fails to maintain records and share relevant information with the appropriate agencies, including Ofsted and the Local Authority Designated Officer, to make sure that people looking after children are suitable to do so. Safeguarding procedures are weak. The provider and staff do not have a secure knowledge of the indicators that would cause concern about children's welfare. They show a very poor understanding of signs that could indicate a child is at risk of exposure to

p.5

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

extreme views. The provider has failed to update her safeguarding policy, which lacks details of the procedure to follow if an allegation is made against a member of staff. In addition, the provider has failed to ensure there is a policy on the safe use of cameras and mobile phones in the setting. The provider shows a poor understanding of her role to monitor the provision effectively. Induction and supervision procedures are weak and staff have limited support to improve their teaching skills or share information that affects their suitability, such as information about their health. The provider fails to maintain an accurate record of attendance and is unclear of how many children are on the premises at any one time. The provider has failed to tackle the many weaknesses in her provision although she has been aware of these for some time. She lacks the capacity to make the necessary improvements without external support.

p.5

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The lack of qualifications and the weaknesses in how staff manage their time impact negatively on the amount of progress children make. Staff do not demonstrate the knowledge and skills to deliver a nurturing or challenging learning environment for young children. For example, staff fail to plan any activities for the day and then leave babies and young children to select their own toys or wander while staff engage in routine tasks. Children's attention is easily distracted because they lack motivation and interest in the toys offered to them. The lack of monitoring has led to a lapse by staff in assessing children's next steps in learning and planning for their needs. Parents do not get a clear picture of how to support children further and children are not challenged to achieve their full potential.

p.5

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The multiple risks posed to children in the unsafe indoor and outdoor spaces adversely affect their good health and ongoing well-being. Poor organisation and ineffective staff deployment frequently interrupts the flow of the day. The key-person system is ineffective and does not support children's emotional well-being. Levels of attention are poor and staff leave new children and babies to cry for long periods without comfort or attention. Staff do not know enough about babies' specific needs, including which milk they drink and when they should sleep, so cannot support their care needs and home routines adequately. Staff follow unsafe feeding procedures, for example, they leave young babies with bottles propped in their mouths unsupervised in the garden. They place babies unattended in high chairs, out of sight and fail to strap them in to ensure their safety. On occasions, children are placed at risk as they fall over unnoticed in the garden or use

p.6

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

equipment in unsafe ways. This places children at significant risk of harm. The provider fails to ensure that a staff member with a first-aid qualification accompanies children on the mini-bus to support their good health and safety, as required.

p.6

Outcomes for children are inadequate

Young children make insufficient progress given their starting points due to weak teaching and the poor range of activities. Not all children are sufficiently motivated to explore and sometimes display behaviour that can put them at risk, such as repeatedly climbing on high furniture which compromises their safety. Babies do not have enough opportunities to develop settled relationships to help them feel emotionally secure and ready to learn. Toddlers wander aimlessly around the nursery and some cry to go home. Children are insufficiently prepared for their next steps in learning or school.

p.6

Setting details

Unique reference number EY500207 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 1112703 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 - 13 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Anna Louise O'Fee

p.7

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07814428585

p.7

reference number

Little O'Fees Childcare registered in 2016. The setting is located in Burghfield, in Reading, Berkshire. The provision is open each weekday from 7am to 7pm for 52 weeks of the year. It offers daily care for children aged two years and under and wrap-around care for older children who attend pre-school or school in the area. The nursery receives funding for children aged two years. There are seven staff who work with the children, three of whom are qualified to level 3 and above. This includes the provider and a member of staff who holds early years teacher status.

p.7

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.

p.7

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.

p.7

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.8

reference number

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

p.8