First Steps Kindergarten

First Steps Kindergarten 42 Arlington Avenue, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5UD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 February 2018 30 March 2015

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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

 The provider does not ensure that the required adult-to-child ratios are met at all times. In addition to this, the provider has not ensured that there are enough qualified staff deployed across the nursery to meet children's needs.  Staff lack an understanding of the safeguarding requirements. They do not know about more recent safeguarding legislation and guidance.  The provider has failed to notify Ofsted of a change to the manager of the provision.  Staff do not plan daily opportunities for younger children to take part in outdoor activities to help promote their physical health and well-being.  Staff do not consistently implement effective hygiene procedures and do not ensure they help children to understand the importance of this to ensure children's good health is promoted.  The quality of teaching is variable. Some group activities are not good enough and children are not sufficiently challenged.

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This provision is inadequate

 Managers do not reflect accurately enough on the quality of the nursery to identify areas where improvements are needed.

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It has the following strengths

 Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff provide parents with ongoing information about their child's day at the nursery. They provide them with ideas of how they can continue to support their children's learning at home.

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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 relevant ratio requirements are consistently met to ensure children's safety and meet individual children's needs 07/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that there is at least one member of staff working in each of the rooms who holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification and at least half of all other staff hold a full and relevant level 2 qualification 07/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff are deployed effectively to meet the needs of all of the children 07/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff develop an up-to-date and robust understanding of the safeguarding requirements, including the 'Prevent' duty guidance 07/03/2018

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Due Date

 improve knowledge of the requirement to notify Ofsted of all changes that occur, including any changes to the manager 07/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that daily outdoor activities are planned for younger children, unless circumstances, such as unsafe weather make this inappropriate 07/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff implement consistently good hygiene practices, including providing support for children to understand the importance of good handwashing routines 07/03/2018

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Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching and ensure staff consistently promote children's learning through purposeful play experiences. 07/03/2018

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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

 reflect more accurately on the overall quality of the setting to identify areas for future improvements.

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Inspection activities

 This inspection was carried out following the risk assessment process.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and learning during activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including policies, children's records and evidence of staff suitability.  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 arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Children's safety and welfare are compromised. The provider has not ensured there are enough staff present in the nursery to adequately care for the children. In addition, not enough appropriately qualified staff are deployed effectively and working with the children. On the day of the inspection, a level 2 qualified member of staff was working on their own in a room, looking after three- and four-year-old children. This means that children's experiences are not of good quality because staff lack the skills and experience to fulfil their roles effectively. Staff's knowledge regarding some child protection procedures is weak. Some staff are unaware of their duty to prevent children from being exposed to extreme ideas about right and wrong. The provider has failed to notify Ofsted of changes to the management of the provision. However, the provider is able to demonstrate suitability checks have been

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

completed for all staff working in the nursery, including the manager. Staff receive regular supervision meetings, have attended further training and are able to contribute to future plans for development. However, self-evaluation is not rigorous enough to ensure weaknesses in practice are highlighted and acted on.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff use their own observations and assessments of children to establish how they are progressing in their learning and to help identify further ways to promote their development. However, some activities planned are not consistently stimulating or engaging. For example, younger children are expected to sit and concentrate for too long during group activities and older children are not always sufficiently challenged, making the task too easy. This results in children losing interest and become distracted. Some experiences offered to children are appropriate. For example, children's communication and language skills are promoted appropriately. Staff engage older children in meaningful conversations and take time to listen to their contributions. Staff working with babies reinforce new words and encourage them to join in with rhymes and songs. Children confidently chat to staff, visitors and friends throughout the day.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management mean that children's welfare and well-being are not assured. The arrangements for promoting children's good health and protecting them from infection are not robust. For example, staff do not always encourage children to wash their hands after using the potty. At times, children begin their meal before having their hands cleaned. In addition, staff do not provide younger children with daily opportunities for outdoor activities in the fresh air to help improve their well-being and good health. Children behave well at the nursery. Staff offer appropriate guidance and boundaries, reminding children of the importance of sharing and being kind to each other. Children have formed good bonds with staff and respond well to the staff's kind and caring approach.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Inconsistencies in the quality of teaching mean that children do not always receive the support they need to make the best possible progress. However, children demonstrate that they feel happy and confident in the nursery. They happily make choices in their play and are learning to become independent and take care of their own needs, such as managing their own personal needs when using the bathroom. Children steadily acquire the basic skills in preparation for their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 200593 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 1123086 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 1 - 4 Total number of places 49 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person First Steps Kindergarten Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 March 2015 Telephone number 01926 332122

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reference number

First Steps Kindergarten registered in 1997. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff, of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3, 4 or 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. It operates from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for 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

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