Alphabet Lanes (Berridge Road)

Alphabet Lanes (Berridge Road) Berridge Road Community Centre, Berridge Road Gipsy Hill, London, SE19 1EF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 October 2017 Not applicable

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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 does not implement effective recruitment procedures. She does not carry out all the relevant checks to ensure staff's suitability to work with children.  Some staff do not have sufficient understanding of the nursery's safeguarding procedures or 'Prevent' duty. This compromises children's welfare.  The monitoring of staff's practice is inconsistent. Some staff do not spend enough time actively engaging with the children. Staff do not make good use of assessments to identify children's next steps and enable them to offer challenge and extend children's abilities to help them make good progress.  Staff do not encourage children's communication and language skills sufficiently well, particularly children who speak English as an additional language. Staff do not consistently help children to learn to be independent.  The provider does not make the best use of the outdoor environment. This restricts

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This provision is inadequate

children in their play and in their ability to make good progress, in particular those who learn best outdoors.  The provider does not use self-evaluation effectively to identify possible breaches in requirements and target all weaknesses to improve outcomes for all children.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff understand the key-person role and help children to settle, form close attachments and feel secure.

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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

 put in place robust systems for checking staff's suitability, which include keeping a record of identity checks and other vetting processes checks for all members of staff 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 ensure all staff understand the safeguarding policy and procedures with particular regard to allegations made about staff and 'Prevent' duty 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 improve systems to supervise staff's practice to focus on raising the quality of teaching, in particular the quality of staff's interactions with children 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 analyse observations and assessments effectively and use the information to plan the next steps for children's individual learning and developmental needs 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 improve staff's knowledge of how to support children's communication and language skills, particularly for those who are learning to speak English, so that they make the best possible progress 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 provide consistent opportunities for children to develop their independence in preparation for when they move to school 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 develop the outdoor environment to support children's play across all areas of learning, to help those who learn best outdoors to make progress. 27/10/2017

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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 an effective self-evaluation process to carefully monitor the quality of the provision and to clearly identify and act on areas for improvement.

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Inspection activities

 The inspection was carried out following the risk assessment process.  The inspector had discussions with the provider/manager about the nursery practices and procedures.  The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke to the staff at appropriate times and also spoke to parents.  The inspector sampled a range of documents, including the safeguarding policy, assessment records, staff's records and the public liability insurance certificate.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. The provider does not make sure recruitment and vetting procedures are secure. She does not take appropriate steps to gather all relevant information to confirm staff's suitability. Staff do not know how to respond should allegations be made about staff members. They understand the possible signs that a child may be at risk of extreme views or behaviour. These weaknesses compromise children's safety. The provider's system for monitoring staff's practice is variable. Although staff have attended some training courses, and goals for their professional development have been agreed, weaknesses in practice are not identified to raise the quality of teaching and learning to a good standard. The self-evaluation process does not identify all areas for improvement effectively. Staff know the arrangements for dealing with accidents and incidents to children and most hold first-aid certificates. They carry out risk assessments to

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

identify and minimise possible hazards to children. Staff are deployed suitably so that ratios are maintained and children are supervised at all times. Partnerships with parents are positive. The parents spoken to at the inspection comment that staff are friendly, caring and keep them informed about their children's routine care and development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff do not use their observation and assessment processes to plan activities that help children make good progress in their learning. They do not provide suitable levels of interaction and support for children to be involved in their play or help them explore new experiences. On these occasions, children quickly lose interest because they are not engaged. Staff do not provide opportunities during activities and daily routines to help children develop their language skills effectively. For example, staff who speak the same language as the children consistently talk to them in their home language. This does not support these children to learn to understand or speak English to help them in preparation for when they move to school. Nevertheless, young children enjoy looking at books and turning the pages, and older children recognise and name simple shapes.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The weaknesses in leadership and management put children at risk. Staff do not make the best use of the outdoor environment. They do not plan activities for those children who prefer to play and learn outside. Staff do not support children's independence well. On occasions, they do not encourage children to do things for themselves. Staff who prepare and cook meals hold a valid training certificate in food and hygiene. Children receive nutritious meals that meet their dietary requirements and food preferences. Children have regular opportunities to play outside in the fresh air and practise their physical skills.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Weaknesses in teaching mean that children do not make sufficient progress in their learning and development from their starting points. Some children are not developing good communication and language skills. Children do not have enough opportunities to develop their independence. Nevertheless, children enjoy pretend play and young children are beginning to develop their early literacy skills. Overall, children are developing some of the basic skills to support the next stage in their development and in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY499875 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 1115069 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Alphabet Lanes (Berridge Road)

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 0208 6709953

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reference number

Alphabet Lanes (Berridge Road) registered in 2016. It is one of two settings owned by the same provider. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.15am to 6.15pm, for 50 weeks of the year. The provider is in receipt of funding for free early education for children age two and three years. The provider employs six staff, all of whom hold early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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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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