Charlie's House Nursery & Forest School

Charlie's House Nursery & Forest School Eden Centre, Grovewood Road, MALVERN, Worcestershire, WR14 1GD

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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 Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision is inadequate

 Managers have failed to put effective systems in place to check the suitability of all staff working at the nursery. This puts children at risk of harm.  Staff do not ensure that outdoor activities are planned and undertaken on a daily basis.  The quality of teaching varies. Managers do not ensure that the professional development opportunities available to staff focus on developing their teaching practice.  Children do not consistently benefit from suitably challenging activities that take account of their interests, needs and stage of development. Some children do not make good enough progress, especially older children.  Staff do not always provide targeted support for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities to help them progress as well as possible.

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It has the following strengths

 The environment is bright, welcoming and well resourced. Between the different areas available for children to use, there is a lot of space for them to play and explore. Overall, children have fun and enjoy attending.  The premises are completely secure. The environment is clean and tidy. Risk assessments and daily checks help to minimise any potential hazards. Staff always operate within the correct ratios so that children are well supervised at all times.

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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 effective systems are in place to check the suitability of all staff, which includes obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service checks 20/10/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that outdoor activities are planned and undertaken on a daily basis 20/10/2017

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Due Date

 improve the focus of staff's professional development to help develop teaching practice 22/12/2017

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Due Date

 improve planning to ensure all children consistently benefit from suitably challenging activities that take account of their interests, needs and stage of development 22/12/2017

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Due Date

 provide more targeted support for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities to help them progress as well as possible. 22/12/2017

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Inspection activities

 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about this provider.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors. She assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager of the nursery.  The inspector spoke to staff and held a meeting with the manager of the nursery. She looked at relevant documentation and checked evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The nursery has been experiencing a period of instability. There have been significant changes to management and staffing in recent months. The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Some staff have not been subject to any suitability checks. Although managers ensure these staff are not left alone with children, they have been working at the nursery without being vetted for an extended time. This does not help to protect children from all types of harm. On the other hand, managers and staff have a sound understanding of child protection issues and know how to manage any immediate concerns. Managers and staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe on outings. Following a recent incident on a routine outing, the manager immediately suspended outings, sought local authority advice and a full investigation took place into the events that occurred. Managers found that the incident was avoidable and have put

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

measures into place to prevent any recurrence. They have updated the risk assessments, reviewed the deployment of senior staff on outings and have plans to provide further training for staff on the safety procedures before outings are reinstated. Managers know what must be notified to Ofsted and have informed them of significant incidents. The arrangements for the performance management of staff are not good enough. Managers supervise the well-qualified staff team and ensure some basic training takes place, such as safeguarding, first aid and food hygiene. However, they do not focus staff's professional development well enough on improving teaching practice. Children do not always benefit from good-quality learning experiences that continually improve. Self-evaluation and monitoring is currently being developed.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not consistently promote children's individual next steps in learning through well planned activities, especially for older children or those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. These children tend to move between activities and struggle to choose what to do. Older children particularly find it difficult to become absorbed and fully maintain attention. This means, these specific groups of children do not yet progress as well as possible. Nevertheless, the curriculum is generally broad. Children are developing basic communication skills. Babies babble, make sounds and repeat single words. Children can express their thoughts, wishes and ideas. All children enjoy creative activities. For example, babies use chalks to make simple marks and enjoy exploring paint using their whole hands or fingers. Children make models with play dough and enjoy painting pictures.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Due to weaknesses in leadership and management, children's welfare is not adequately promoted. Furthermore, staff do not effectively plan for outdoor play on a daily basis. This means, there are periods of time when children do not play outdoors at all. Nevertheless, staff are kind and friendly. Managers allocate every child a key person. Key persons share a basic two-way flow of information with parents and other providers. This helps them get to know children well and keep up to date with any changes to children's care needs. Children have sound relationships with key staff. Staff manage children's behaviour appropriately. Children generally listen to staff and behave well. Staff find out about children's family lives, cultures or languages and help children to learn about, recognise and value these. Children are developing a sense of acceptance, tolerance and respect.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children do not consistently make good enough progress in all areas of their learning, especially older children. Furthermore, some children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities do not benefit from the help and support they need to begin to catch up. Nevertheless, children are developing some of the basic skills they need to move on to school. They are fairly confident and are becoming quite independent. Children are learning to take turns and play well with others. Children are also beginning to develop literacy and mathematical skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY537362 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 1115002 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 - 11 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Charlotte Elizabeth Lunn

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07943 562895

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reference number

Charlie's House Nursery & Forest School registered in 2016. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, 4 or 6. One member of staff holds early years teacher status and the deputy manager holds qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday and all year round, except for two weeks at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery follows the Montesorri philosophy.

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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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