Buzby Mae Pre-School

Buzby Mae Pre-School St Johns Church Hall, St Johns Road, Harpenden, AL5 1DJ

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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 keep a record of the identity checks and vetting processes carried out to ensure staff's suitability to work with children.  The safeguarding policy does not include a procedure for the safe use of mobile phones within the pre-school.  Staff do not make accurate observations and assessments of children's learning. They do not plan or teach activities that challenge and support children to make good progress from the earliest opportunity.  The system used by the provider to promote staff's professional development is not effective. It lacks rigour in identifying and dealing swiftly with underperformance to improve teaching skills and raise the standard of staff practice.  Parents are not consistently provided with information about how they can support their children's learning at home.  The provider does not monitor and evaluate practice effectively, and focus on raising the quality of teaching or drive continuous improvement.

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It has the following strengths

 Children form close relationships with staff which help to support their emotional well- being.

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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 information about staff vetting processes that have been completed, including the criminal records check reference number, the date a check was obtained and details of who obtained it, is recorded 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 implement a policy and procedure to safeguard children, that covers the use of mobile phones in the setting 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 ensure appropriate arrangements are put in place for the supervision of staff to identify the ongoing training needs of individuals and improve the quality of teaching 27/10/2017

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 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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 plan a challenging and enjoyable learning experience for each child from the start so that all children are motivated and engaged in purposeful play opportunities 27/10/2017

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Due Date

 provide parents with accurate information about their children's development and how they can support their learning at home. 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

 enhance procedures for reflecting on practice to drive continuous development and improve outcomes for children.

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Inspection activities

 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector discussed an evaluation of an activity with the provider.  The inspector held a number of discussions with the provider, staff and children.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of persons working with children. The inspector discussed with the provider how she reflects on practice.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. The provider does not record details about the vetting processes to demonstrate that staff are suitable. Safeguarding procedures are incomplete as it does not include the safe use of mobile phones. Nevertheless, staff have a sound understanding of child protection procedures. They explain the possible signs of abuse or neglect. Staff understand how to report their concerns to the designated person in the pre-school and the local authority. Staff complete an induction so they are clear about their role. Risk assessments are completed prior to outings to help ensure children are safe. All required policies and procedures have recently been updated and meet requirements. Information about children's personal needs is gathered, which helps staff to provide for their individual care needs. Ongoing information sharing does not provide effective support for parents to extend children's learning at home. The arrangements for

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

staff supervision meetings are ineffective. While the provider has ensured staff attend required training, such as first aid and safeguarding, she has not tackled underperformance. Staff are not currently supported well enough to develop their teaching practice. This has a negative impact on children's progress. The provider has not reflected on the pre-school's practice to ensure all weaknesses are identified and improvements made.

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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 to explore new experiences. The lack of effective teaching practice has an impact on opportunities for children to make good progress. Staff make observations of children's learning. However, targeted support is inconsistent as staff do not make the most of teaching opportunities to extend and help children achieve their next steps in learning. For example, when staff plan a cooking activity they fail to make links between this activity, children's capabilities and their identified next steps for learning. As a result, children remain unchallenged. Children have fun during some activities. For example, they enjoy using role play to act as jungle animals. Children use their existing knowledge to roar like

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management compromises children's well-being. Staff implement routines to help promote children's understanding about suitable hygiene routines. They act as good role models, for example they wash their own hands at appropriate times, including before cooking activities. Staff talk with the children about the importance of doing this. Children enjoy outdoor play opportunities that include regular visits to a local woodland. Here they engage in forest school activities and are supported by staff to increase their physical skills, including balance and coordination. Children enjoy a variety of healthy and nutritious snacks, and parents support the healthy eating programme when providing their child's packed lunch. Information about food allergens is checked when planning snacks to protect children from foods that may harm them. On the whole, children behave well.

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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. Nevertheless, children are gaining the basic skills they need to support the next stage in their learning and their eventual move on to school. Children are developing their social skills. They enjoy reading books, which supports their early literacy.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498920 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1115423 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 3 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Buzby Mae LTD

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07526789730

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reference number

Buzby Mae Pre-School registered in 2016. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during the school term. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm. The pre-school also offers a breakfast club from 8.30am until 9.15am and a lunch club from 12.15pm until 1.15pm.

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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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