Phoenix Childcare

Phoenix Childcare Bletchley Youth Centre, Derwent Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 7BE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 May 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

 Staff have a poor understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. Some do not understand the 'Prevent' duty guidance or how to escalate concerns about a child's welfare. This puts children at significant risk.  Staff do not accurately identify and minimise risks to children's health and safety. For example, the risks to babies' health from playing on floors which are dirty from older children's outdoor footwear.  Staff do not provide a suitable and safe space for babies and very young children. Babies who are learning to crawl and walk spend long periods being carried by staff, which has a negative impact on their physical development.  Staff do not use the key-person system effectively to meet the needs of each child. For example, managers do not inform parents promptly when a different member of staff takes over as their child's key person.  Managers do not evaluate the provision or monitor staff teaching effectively. The quality

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This provision is inadequate

of teaching is poor and children do not make the progress of which they are capable.  Assessments arrangements are weak. Staff do not have a thorough understanding of each child's individual progress and are not able to plan well to meet their specific needs.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff work well with other professionals to help children who need additional support.  Children are happy and settled and show that they enjoy attending nursery.

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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 all staff have a thorough understanding of all safeguarding matters, including the 'Prevent' duty guidance, and how to escalate any concerns, to keep children safe from harm 10/05/2018

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Due Date

 take all necessary steps to ensure that children are not exposed to risks, with particular reference to babies and very young children 10/05/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that there is a safe, suitable space for the dedicated care of children under the age of two years 10/05/2018

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Due Date

 monitor the quality of teaching and staff practice closely and provide staff with guidance and support to improve their skills and the overall quality of teaching and outcomes for children 11/06/2018

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Due Date

 improve key-person arrangements to ensure that parents have accurate information about their child's care and progress 11/06/2018

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Due Date

 deliver effective support to babies to develop all aspects of their physical development 11/06/2018

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Due Date

 improve assessments so that key staff can plan worthwhile learning experiences that meet the individual needs of children and help them make good progress. 11/06/2018

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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

 make effective use of self-evaluation to help identify and address breaches in requirements and weaknesses in practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children and staff indoors and outdoors.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the joint manager.  The inspector spoke to staff about their understanding of child protection, safeguarding and first aid.  The inspector spoke to parents and children and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at documentation, including policies and children's records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. Managers have not ensured that all staff's safeguarding knowledge remains up to date. They do not provide a designated space for the care of children under the age of two and have not identified the risks to these children's health and safety of not doing so. For example, older children drop toys and resources to the floor which present a choking hazard to very young children. These breaches in requirements and weaknesses in practice present a risk to children's welfare and compromise their safety. Staff receive limited feedback on their performance and are offered limited training and professional development opportunities. Although there are adequate qualified staff to maintain suitable adult-to-child ratios, several staff have no childcare qualifications and have a poor understanding of child development or the requirements of their role. Managers have not identified the weaknesses in practice

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

through their use of self-evaluation. For example, they have not recognised that inaccuracies in staff's assessments of individual children have a negative impact on their own ability to monitor all children's progress precisely. Due to the weaknesses in the assessment arrangements, staff often provide parents with inaccurate information about their child's progress which hinders parent's ability to support further learning at home. However, parents speak fondly of staff and value the flexibility they offer regarding children's patterns of attendance. Managers monitor the use of additional funding to ensure that it is used effectively to meet children's individual needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff do not plan activities thoroughly enough to make them appealing to children. For example, staff present a group of children with a box of plastic bricks with the intention of teaching them about numbers and counting. They then slot the pieces together and repeatedly ask 'how many?' Children are bored and do not respond. When a music and movement activity fails to capture many children's interest, staff continue to stand at the front singing to an ever decreasing number of children. As children leave this activity, most of them choose to run around aimlessly. Staff have a poor understanding of their role in supporting children in their self-chosen learning. When the resources on offer fail to capture children's ongoing attention, they engage in repetitive and non-challenging learning, moving swiftly from one activity to another. Staff often sit passively watching. When they do join them, they use questioning which is repetitive and not effective in

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

challenging children or helping them make progress. For example, they ask children to repeatedly name the colour of items. Children choose to move away. Staff have not considered how to meet the needs of the very youngest children. For example, tables and resources are set up without the needs of babies in mind and they have few opportunities to practise pulling themselves to standing, in readiness for walking.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Staff do not ensure children's well-being because of the weaknesses in their safeguarding knowledge and risk assessment procedures. The weaknesses in the key-person system lead to parents not being given accurate information about who their child's key person is or clear details on their child's progress to help them support this effectively. The lack of challenge and stimulation for children, arising from the poor quality teaching, results in children not engaging well. Many show low levels of focus and concentration. However, staff do help children learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. For example, children can choose to spend extended periods in the fresh air and snacks are healthy. Children behave in a manner which is typical for their age. They enjoy coming to the nursery and some are confident to talk to visitors about their experiences.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Not all children make adequate progress. Younger children's progress is hindered by the lack of planning for their particular needs. Older children are not gaining the skills and understanding that they need in preparation for the move to school. For example, staff allow more confident children to shout out the answers in group situations and children do not learn about turn taking or to consider the needs of each other. However, children do gain some understanding of shapes, numbers and letters.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498330 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 1052287 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Phoenix Childcare Mk Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01908 226218

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reference number

Phoenix Childcare registered in 2016 and is situated in Bletchley, Milton Keynes. The provision operates Monday to Friday between 8am to 6pm throughout the year. There are seven staff working with the children. The joint manager holds qualified teacher status and three other members of staff hold relevant qualifications at level 3.

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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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