St Michaels Preschool

St Michaels Preschool Traco Club, Weybourne Road, Aldershot, GU11 3NE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 February 2018 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 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 designated lead for safeguarding has insufficient knowledge of safeguarding matters and fails to support staff adequately to safeguard children. Staff do not keep robust records of concerns and fail to share information with other agencies to ensure children's safety. The safeguarding policy lacks the required details.  Recruitment and vetting procedures are weak. The committee do not implement effective systems to ensure staff's suitability. They fail to meet their statutory responsibilities to report concerns around staff suitability to the relevant agencies. They have failed to notify Ofsted of changes to the committee as required.  The committee do not monitor staff performance, including that of the manager, to improve teaching and promote children's well-being. The manager does not have the necessary skills to fulfil her role effectively. Staff fail to maintain a record of children's attendance. Some records are not accessible for inspection or stored securely.

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This provision is inadequate

 Monitoring of children's progress and teaching is weak. Staff do not identify or address gaps in learning. Assessments, including the progress check at age two years, are incomplete and are not shared with parents as required.  Activities provide insufficient challenge. Children do not receive adequate support and make poor progress, particularly in their communication and language.

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It has the following strengths

 Children enjoy playing outside on the decking area, where they throw and catch balls.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

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Due Date

 ensure that the designated lead person for safeguarding has a secure knowledge of all safeguarding matters, including how to identify, understand and respond in a timely way to all signs of possible concerns effectively; and is able to provide appropriate support, advice and guidance to staff about any issues that place children's welfare at risk 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure all staff, including the designated lead for safeguarding, have regard to the government's statutory guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015', and, where there are concerns about children's safety or welfare, ensure that agencies with statutory responsibilities are notified without delay 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 implement a policy and procedures to safeguard children, that is in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Board, that includes an explanation of the action to be taken when there are safeguarding concerns about a child and in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff or when concerns are raised about their suitability 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 record information about the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed, including the Disclosure and Barring Service check reference number, the date the check was obtained and details of who obtained it 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 maintain records and share information effectively with parents and carers, and other professionals working with children, including social services, the Police and Ofsted, as appropriate, to ensure the safe and efficient management of the setting, and to help ensure the needs of all children are met 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 improve knowledge of significant events that need to be notified to Ofsted 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 put appropriate arrangements in place for the supervision of staff who have contact with children and families 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure the manager has sufficient knowledge and the necessary skills to fulfil her roles and responsibilities effectively 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 maintain a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of the key persons who care for them 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure records are easily accessible and available, and that confidential information and records about staff and children are 19/03/2018 held securely in line with the Data Protection Act, and only accessible and available to those who have a right or professional need to see them.

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 monitor the educational programmes and quality of teaching effectively to identify and target weaker aspects of children's learning, including areas where children may be slow to develop key skills, so they are supported to catch up 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure children's developmental assessments, including the progress check at age two years, provide accurate information for parents which focuses on any delays in a child's development and the support that may be needed to address any concerns 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that staff use observation and assessment to accurately identify children's developmental starting points and to effectively plan for the next steps in children's learning, and share these with parents 19/03/2018

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Due Date

 plan challenging and enjoyable experiences that take full account of each child's individual needs, interests and stage of development to promote good progress in their learning, particularly in communication and language. 19/03/2018

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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 children's play, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector looked at samples of children's assessment folders and discussed children's learning with staff and the manager.  The inspector spoke with the staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took the written views of parents into consideration. The inspector held a meeting with the chairperson and representatives from the local authority.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of a focus activity with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. The designated lead for safeguarding fails to support staff effectively to monitor children's well-being and act on any concerns in a timely way, despite attending training for this role. She does not readily recognise signs that indicate a child is at risk of harm and therefore, she cannot successfully guide staff on what to do next. Staff show a basic understanding of the procedure to follow should they need to report a concern about a child or the behaviour of another adult. However, current policies for referring to the Local Authority Safeguarding Children board were not up to date. Staff adequately name signs that would indicate a risk to a child's well-being, but fail to take appropriate action when concerns arise. Staff fail to maintain records of concerns or work sufficiently in partnership with other agencies to keep children safe. Staff do however supervise children adequately, including in the outdoor area. They suitably assess risks,

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

such as placing temporary fencing out when children play outside on the adjoining field. The manager and committee have failed to inform Ofsted and other safeguarding agencies of a significant event that occurred in the setting. In addition, the committee are unaware of the need to inform Ofsted of a change of nominated person as required. Further breaches in safeguarding compromise children's safety. The committee do not ensure staff's suitability. On the day of the inspection, the manager was unable to locate some required records, including evidence of Disclosure and Barring Service checks and suitability checks for staff. Staff supervision is ineffective. The committee have failed to identify weaknesses in the manager's understanding of her role and responsibilities, and of staff's practice. Staff do not successfully monitor children's progress or use additional funding to close the gap in some children's learning in readiness for school. They also fail

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

to maintain an accurate record of children's attendance. On the day of the inspection, staff miscounted the number of children present and did not show vigilance in recording when children came in late or left early. Confidential records, including information about children and staff, are not stored securely. Some confidential records are kept in carrier bags at staffs' homes. The committee have not met their responsibilities to comply with the data protection act, including when a serious data breach occurred. The committee fail to monitor and evaluate the provision effectively, including the leadership skills of the manager. They have not taken action to address weaknesses and demonstrate a poor capacity to make the required improvements without external support.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff fail to use their qualifications and experience to tailor activities to meet children's individual needs. They do not make effective use of the training they attend, for example, to support children's communication skills. Children occupy themselves for much of the session, selecting toys from the uninspiring range of resources on offer and do not receive the input from staff to involve them in learning. Activities are mundane and fail to sustain children’s concentration. On occasions where teaching is better, such as the occasional planned small-group activities, children engage readily and enjoy improved levels of support from staff. However, these opportunities are inconsistent and not all children show confidence to take part. Basic systems are in place to engage parents in children's learning. However, staff do not ensure that the progress checks for children aged between two and three years are completed for all children to clearly identify where children may

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

need additional support. Where these checks are completed, assessments are not shared with parents. Children with special educational needs do not receive targeted support and fall further behind in key areas of their development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The committee and staff do not ensure children's well-being, due to the significant weaknesses in their safeguarding understanding and practice. Staff limit children's independence and complete tasks that children could do for themselves, for example during snack time. Staff follow suitable procedures to minimise the spread of infection and children play in an adequately maintained premises and have access to toys that appear clean. Staff provide activities outdoors for those children who prefer to play in the fresh air. For example, children arrange dinosaurs in an imaginary world and make marks with chalk on wooden boards. Staff manage children's behaviour suitably and generally model turntaking and sharing of resources. However, due to children's lack of interest in the poor selection of activities on offer, on occasions, children argue over toys and indicate they are bored.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children make very little progress from their starting points on entry, with a large number of children working below typical levels for their age, especially in their communication and language. Some children are unable to make their needs known and do not readily join in activities. They are distracted easily and find it hard to make choices in their play. Staff do not help children to develop the important skills needed for their next stage of learning or in preparation for starting school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500084 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1125540 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 52 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person St Michaels Pre School Aldershot Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01252 337687

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reference number

St Michael's Preschool registered in 2016. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, term time only, from 9am until 3.30pm. It provides funded educational places for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs seven members of staff and of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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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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