Children's Cottage Day Nursery

Children's Cottage Day Nursery Clavering Primary School, Stortford Road, Clavering, SAFFRON WALDEN, Essex, CB11 4PE

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 October 2017 6 February 2017

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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

 The provider does not ensure that staff have a robust understanding of the safeguarding policy. She does not check to ensure staff understand the procedures they must follow, such as how to respond to allegations about adults who work with children.  The manager does not provide effective induction training for new members of staff. They do not to fully understand their roles and responsibilities, particularly with regard to safeguarding children and managing children’s behaviour.  The manager does not provide effective supervision, support or guidance to staff. She does not tackle weaker aspects of staff's knowledge, understanding or teaching practice. She does not support them in their professional development.  Staff do not consistently manage children's behaviour in a positive manner. Sometimes, they give negative feedback to children without giving them a clear explanation of their expectations for behaviour. This impacts on children's well-being and self-esteem.

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 Children do not experience meaningful learning opportunities which are targeted to their individual levels of development. Some activities lack challenge, whereas other activities are significantly beyond children's capabilities. Children lack motivation to learn and do not always respond to staff.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Children play well together and develop good friendships.

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 will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all staff are trained to understand the safeguarding policy and procedures and are able to respond in a timely and appropriate way when they have concerns about a member of staff or the welfare of a child in their care 27/11/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that new members of staff receive induction training to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities, particularly with regard to safeguarding children 27/11/2017

p.2

Due Date

 address any weaknesses in staff's practice and implement an effective programme of professional development to help staff to continually improve 27/11/2017

p.2

Due Date

 use effective strategies to promote children's positive behaviour, relative to their age and level of understanding, and which support their confidence and self-esteem. 27/11/2017

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 ensure staff plan opportunities for children in all areas of learning which meet their individual needs, challenge them appropriately and engage them in good quality learning opportunities. 27/11/2017

p.2

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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

There are significant weaknesses in the leadership and management of the nursery. The provider, who is also the manager, fails to act in a timely manner to address actions raised at the last inspection. This demonstrates a lack of capacity to improve. Despite being raised as an action at the last inspection, staff continue to lack support and guidance to undertake training and professional development opportunities. The manager sometimes identifies poor quality teaching practice when she observes staff interacting with children. However, she does not take action to address these weaknesses. New members of staff do not receive effective induction training to ensure they understand the nursery's policies and procedures, such as how to promote children's positive behaviour and keep them safe from harm. Safeguarding is not effective. The lead practitioner for safeguarding does not train all members of staff to understand the safeguarding policies and procedures. She is

p.4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

not aware that staff have poor knowledge and understanding of how to report any concerns they have about adults who work with children. This poses a significant risk to children's welfare.

p.4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Some staff's teaching skills are weak. They do not know how to promote children's next steps in learning and do not focus their teaching at suitable levels for children's abilities. They ask young children, who are developing their speaking skills, to identify letters from a game that is beyond their capabilities. Children often fail to respond to questions due to their lack of understanding. Outdoors, children explore with sand. They use a scoop to fill a bucket with sand, but quickly leave the activity and are uninspired to learn. Staff do not make use of their assessments of children's progress. They do not plan opportunities which are targeted to meet children's individual needs. However, they do take on ideas from parents and other professionals, such as how to promote children's speaking skills.

p.4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Some staff lack skills to promote children's good behaviour and their expectations are not consistent with children's age or level of understanding. They do not consider how to support young children's understanding of behaviour in a positive manner, particularly during routines. Snack time is organised so that young children sit with their back to other children who are playing. The children's natural inclination is to want to see what is taking place, but they are repeatedly told they must not turn to look at their friends. Despite the manager being close by, she does not notice this as an issue. This negatively impacts on children's self-esteem and well-being, and hinders them from forming positive relationships with all staff. On other occasions, however, staff do praise children for their achievements, such as when they share with their friends. Children are encouraged to manage self-care needs. They are provided with healthy food and are supported to

p.4

Outcomes for children are inadequate

Weaknesses in teaching and planning impact negatively on children's learning and progress. Some children lack confidence and enthusiasm to learn. They often demonstrate little concentration during activities and quickly disengage from activities without achieving any meaningful learning. They do not always listen and respond to staff. They do not gain important skills and are not prepared well for the next stage in their learning, such as school.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY389261 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1085295 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Children's Cottage Day Nursery Ltd

p.6

reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 February 2017 Telephone number 07779250414

p.6

reference number

Children's Cottage Day Nursery registered in 2009. The nursery employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

p.6

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.6

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.6

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.7

reference number

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

p.7

reference number

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

p.7