Safari Childcare

Safari Childcare Childrens Day Nursery, 79 Halstead Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 9AD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 October 2017 7 September 2016

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Observations and assessment processes are not secure. Therefore gaps in children’s learning are not identified swiftly enough.  Staff do not gather enough information on children's starting points in their learning and development.  Staff miss spontaneous opportunities to promote children's learning.  Occasionally staff do not manage changes in the daily routine well and children become bored when they are left waiting too long.

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It has the following strengths

 Children settle quickly because staff are welcoming and key person procedures are in place to support children's emotional wellbeing.  Managers have clear processes to recruit, check and monitor staff. They ensure staff remain suitable for their role.  Managers and staff have made positive changes since Ofsted involvement earlier in the year. They have drawn up targeted action plans and undertaken training to develop their knowledge and practice. They have worked closely with the local authority.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 obtain accurate information about children's initial starting points on entry to the setting 10/11/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that tools used to track and assess individual and groups of children, are accurate and used effectively to support children to make the best possible progress in their learning 10/11/2017

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Due Date

 develop staff knowledge, understanding and practice of a range of teaching methods to support children's development through purposeful play and spontaneous interaction with them. 10/11/2017

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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

 review and improve how changes in routine are structured to ensure children are purposefully engaged and supported to manage change well.

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspectors spoke with managers, members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  An inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and discussed their findings.  The inspectors held a meeting with the manager and the nominated person. They looked at a range of documentation, including the learning and development records of children, the settings policies and procedures and staff records.  The inspectors spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Managers are not yet secure in identifying weaknesses in the provision. For example, not all staff have a comprehensive understanding of how to use the new system to observe and assess children’s learning. Although managers recognise some areas need improvement, for example, how staff deliver and organise activities to help children learn and keep them engaged, improvements in practice, are not yet established consistently. However, there are positive changes in place following Ofsted's previous visit. There are effective arrangements for supervising, coaching and managing staff and these are starting to show positive improvements. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding principles and procedures and know what to do if they have a concern about a child’s welfare.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not always make good use of spontaneous moments to support children’s learning and critical thinking. There is a range of activities and resources for children to choose from, but these do not always capture children's attention or motivate them to play. Children are beginning to develop early literacy and number recognition. Staff use observation and assessment of children's achievements to plan new learning experiences. However, these do not always challenge children who are more able, or identify how to provide support to those who need it. Recently, managers introduced a new online system to track children's development. However, this is not yet established. This means managers are unable to effectively track children’s learning to identify if there are gaps in their development or if they are excelling and need more challenge.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are responsive to children and in most cases recognise and accommodate their individual needs. Staff build secure emotional relationships with children. They work closely with parents to ensure settling-in procedures are effective. Parents know the key person well and are positive about the support their children receive. Children have good behaviour, although may become restless during delays in changes to the daily routine, like queuing to go outside. They are developing confidence and independence. For example, children decide when they need to wash their hands and use the portable sinks. Outdoor play is incorporated into the daily routine and children enjoy activities in the garden like creating puddles to stamp their feet in.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children make steady progress and develop some key skills in preparation for the next stage in their learning. However, many missed opportunities to extend their learning, and poor use of tracking their development does not help children make consistently good progress. Nevertheless, children enjoy developing relationships, exploring the environment with curiosity and excitement and independently choosing activities that they like to play with. They concentrate well on activities they like and listen well to instruction.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488581 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1111536 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 66 - 2 Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 68 Name of registered person Safari Childcare Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 7 September 2016 Telephone number 07535705878

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reference number

Safari Childcare was registered in 2015 and is run by a limited company. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold a level 6 qualification, one holds a level 4 and six staff hold level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Opening times are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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

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