First Steps Nursery

First Steps Nursery Stacey Bushes Meeting Place, Briar Hill, Stacey Bushes, Milton Keynes, MK12 6HX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 January 2018 5 November 2014

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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 has failed to provide Ofsted with information about committee members. In addition, she does not ensure that appropriate suitability and vetting processes, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS), are in place for all adults who work with children. Consequently children's well-being and safety are compromised.  The provider has failed to ensure that there is always at least one member of staff present who holds a paediatric first-aid qualification. Staff do not consistently promote children's good health and hygiene. This compromises children's safety and welfare.  Staff do not manage children's behaviour consistently. They do not help children to understand and learn about acceptable ways to behave. Outcomes for children are poor.  The provider does not ensure communication with parents is effective. Some parents are not aware of their child's key person and staff do not share ongoing information

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This provision is inadequate

about children's care and learning.  Teaching is weak. Staff are not coached and mentored sufficiently to improve outcomes for children. Staff do not use the information gained from observations and assessments of children's learning effectively to plan for their future learning. Children make poor progress.

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It has the following strengths

 Children develop confidence in some physical skills. For example, as they run, climb and dig in the outdoor area.

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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

 provide Ofsted with the required information to carry out suitability checks on all committee members 30/01/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that robust recruitment and vetting procedures are in place and recorded appropriately, including undertaking checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service for all staff and volunteers working with children 30/01/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that there is at least one member of staff on the premises at all times children are present who holds a valid paediatric first- aid qualification 27/02/2018

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Due Date

 implement effective procedures to promote children's good health and hygiene, with particular regard to preventing cross-infection 30/01/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff use effective behaviour management strategies and give children consistent support and guidance to learn how to behave well 27/02/2018

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Due Date

 improve communication with parents to ensure all are informed about their child's key person and establish a good two-way flow of information sharing about children's care and development to ensure children's needs are consistently met 27/02/2018

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Due Date

 monitor the quality of teaching and practice and use the information gained to provide effective support, coaching and mentoring to the staff to raise the quality of teaching and improve outcomes for children 27/02/2018

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Due Date

 improve the learning experiences provided for all children and increase staff's awareness of how to use the assessment system to monitor children's progress and to plan for their future learning. 27/02/2018

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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 and committee members.  The inspector spoke to parents and carers during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

There have been a number of staff and management changes and although the provider has identified weaknesses, she has not undertaken her responsibilities effectively to address these. As a result, a number of legal requirements are not met, which compromises the safety and welfare of children. Safeguarding is not effective. Management has failed to follow robust vetting procedures. The provider has not provided Ofsted with the required information to undertake suitability checks on committee members, some of whom work directly with children. Records of DBS checks are not in place for all adults working with children. Systems to supervise and mentor staff fail to provide effective support, coaching and training to help them provide the best for children in their care. However, staff do have a sound understanding of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare or in the event of any allegations about

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Although most staff are qualified, they do not demonstrate a good understanding of the different ways in which children learn. Staff do not use information from assessments effectively to tailor their teaching and plan for what children need to learn next. Some staff simply supervise children during the session and their interactions are limited. Activities set out are often mundane and uninviting. Children of all ages spend some time wandering or running around the room or corridor. Staff do little to engage them in enjoyable or purposeful play. On occasion, an activity does ignite children's interest. However, because there is little else to engage children in the room, they quickly crowd around the activity, pushing each other and resources around. Consequently, too many children try to join in for any meaningful learning to take place.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

There have been several changes in staffing recently and not all parents are aware of who is their child's key person. Weaknesses in the overall quality of teaching and the failure of staff to work in full partnership with parents hinder the progress that children make in their learning and emotional development. Staff do not promote children's good health adequately. For example, after sick children lie and sleep on cushions, other children are able to use them, which puts them at risk of cross-infection. There is not always a trained member of staff present to deal with any first-aid or medical issues effectively, which compromises children's safety. Staff do not respond consistently or use positive strategies to reinforce good behaviour. At times, staff ignore negative behaviour and do not help children to understand how to behave well.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not engage deeply in their learning or develop high levels of motivation and curiosity. Children do not gain the valuable skills they need to prepare them for the next stage of their education, including their eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY256546 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 1070505 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 - 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person First Steps Nursery Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 November 2014 Telephone number 07968 344 453 and 01908 321 605

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reference number

First Steps Nursery registered in 2003. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to midday during term time. There are five members of staff, four of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery provides funded 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

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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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