A* Stars Pre-School

A* Stars Pre-School Riverview Terrace, London Road, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1QT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 May 2018 16 June 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 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 a poor understanding of her legal role and responsibility to ensure children's safety, well-being, and learning and development.  The provider has failed to ensure that the manager has the relevant knowledge and skills and to ensure there is a named deputy in place.  The provider has failed to ensure that the designated lead for safeguarding has attended child protection training. This significantly compromises children's safety.  The provider has not ensured that staff receive appropriate coaching and support to help develop their practice and improve the quality of their teaching.  Children's safety is not assured. The provider does not ensure that risk assessments are carried out rigorously enough to identify and minimise hazards. In addition, fire detection and control equipment is not maintained appropriately.  The provider does not ensure that meals are healthy and nutritious. Staff do not

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This provision is inadequate

prepare food to ensure it is safe for children to eat.  The provider and staff do not use information from observations to improve children's progress in their learning. They fail to recognise how to extend and challenge children's development. Children do not make good progress.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff support children who speak English as an additional language to develop their communication and language skills.

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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 managers have suitable experience, knowledge and skills to carry out their role effectively at all times 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 ensure there is a named deputy who is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager's absence 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 ensure there are effective systems in place to provide staff with regular opportunities for training, coaching and support to help improve the quality of teaching and their personal effectiveness 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that the designated lead person for safeguarding attends child protection training so that they are able to provide support, advice and guidance to other staff with regard to all safeguarding issues 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 put effective arrangements in place to ensure all areas of the environment are checked for risks and hazards on a regular basis and to identify when and by whom those aspects are checked, and how risks will be removed or minimised 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of everyone on the premises in the case of fire, with particular regard to ensuring that smoke detection and fire control equipment are appropriately maintained 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 make sure children are provided with meals that are healthy, balanced and nutritious 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff responsible for the safe preparation of food are competent to do so. 15/06/2018 To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure each area of learning and development is promoted through a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities that takes into account each child's individual learning needs so that they make good progress 15/06/2018

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Due Date

 introduce effective observation and assessment of children's learning to obtain an accurate understanding of each child's level of achievement, interests and learning styles, and use the information to shape learning experiences that are tailored to meet their individual needs. 15/06/2018

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Inspection activities

 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  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

Safeguarding is not effective. The provider does not have a clear understanding of her responsibilities and is ineffective in her role. The provider has failed to ensure the manager has relevant experience and skills for the role. In addition, she has not appointed a named deputy. The manager, who is the designated lead person for safeguarding, has a limited understanding of safeguarding matters. She has not attended child protection training in order to carry out her role effectively in supporting staff to safeguard children. Although a risk assessment takes place each morning, staff do not have the skills to carry this out effectively and identify all hazards. For example, children playing outside find sharp objects laying on the floor, such as screws. Broken equipment, such as a painting easel propped up against the fence and screws sticking out of low-level wooden planters where children are expected to dig, also pose a hazard. In addition, the garden play

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

equipment is dirty and parts of toys that have accumulated over a period of time are scattered around the area. The provider is unable to demonstrate that the premises comply with the requirements for fire safety. Fire detection and control equipment is not maintained appropriately. This significantly compromises children's safety and well-being. Performance management procedures are not good enough. Staff are not equipped with all the knowledge required to help them fulfil their roles and improve the quality of their teaching.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff fail to accurately assess children's progress. They do not use what they know about children to plan for the next steps in children's learning. Staff do not ensure that activities are age appropriate. As a result, activities do not offer enough challenge and are not consistently matched to children's needs and interests. For example, children play with large construction bricks and activity cubes but this does not offer an appropriate level of challenge for older children. That said, children are happy and enjoy some activities on offer. Staff provide some support and build on what children do and say. For example, they encourage children to name different types of fruit while they are completing a puzzle. Staff use number language and they also help children identify different coloured icing as they decorate biscuits.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management mean that children's welfare is not assured. The provider does not ensure children are provided with a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet. Many of the meals are processed frozen meals or contain reformed meat. Although staff who are involved in preparing meals have received food hygiene training, they do not check that the frozen food being served to children is cooked through and of an appropriate temperature. The manager says she bases her judgement on food being the correct temperature by looking for steam. Nevertheless, some aspects of children's emotional well-being are promoted. Staff are kind and caring. They promote good manners and encourage children's self-care skills. Staff provide parents with information about their child's day at the pre-school. Parents find the staff friendly and approachable.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not make good progress. They are not supported well enough to become successful learners who are well prepared for their eventual move to school. However, children are becoming independent. For example, they put on their shoes as they go outside to play. They make friendships with others and learn to socialise together. Children benefit from fresh air and exercise, which helps to develop their physical skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY462704 Local authority Thurrock Inspection number 1136129 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 0 - 11 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 8 Name of registered person A Stars Nursery & Pre-School Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 June 2015 Telephone number 07757672840

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reference number

A* Stars Pre-School registered in 2013 and is privately owned. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 9am to 6.30pm.

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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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