Little Acorns Day Nursery Uk Ltd

Little Acorns Day Nursery Uk Ltd Community Centre, 55 Tealby Court, Georges Road, London, N7 8HY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 July 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 provider has failed to ensure that the premises are hygienic, clean and suitable for use. This compromises children's health and well-being.   Children are exposed to risks because the premises are not adequately checked and maintained and staff's knowledge of how to reduce risks is weak.   Significant weaknesses with staffing arrangements and deployment compromise children's well-being and reduce the effectiveness of their learning opportunities.   Children's progress in their learning is significantly hindered because the quality of teaching is inadequate. Furthermore, the quality of teaching is not monitored because the arrangements for staff supervision are poor.   The manager does not ensure that staff group young children effectively during activities and routines. Staff do not match activities to children's level of development. Older children become bored, restless and their behaviour quickly deteriorates.

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This provision is inadequate

  The provider does not foster continuous improvement. She fails to supervise, support coach and staff including the manager.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff develop positive relationships with parents. They provide a warm welcome and respect their wishes.

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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 the premises are fit for purpose and suitable for children attending; this is with particular regard to the cleanliness and maintenance of the premises and resources, both inside and outside of the nursery 03/08/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff take action to identify hazards within the inside and outdoor environments and take prompt action to minimise risks 03/08/2018

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Due Date

 make sure staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children, ensuring that children’s safety, emotional and learning needs are met at all times 03/08/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff have sufficient development opportunities and support to understand their roles and responsibilities and to offer children quality learning and development experiences 03/08/2018

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Due Date

 ensure there is effective supervision of staff, including the manager that provides support, and coaching and encourages mutual support, teamwork and opportunities for continuous improvement. 03/08/2018

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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

 improve staff teaching skills so all those who work with children can plan and provide challenging experiences to enable all children to make good progress 03/08/2018

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Due Date

 make sure assessment information is gathered from looking at what children already know, understand and can do and used to plan for children’s next steps in learning. 03/08/2018

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Inspection activities

 The inspection was carried out as part of a risk assessment process.  The inspector observed staff interactions during activities indoors and outdoors and looked at a range of resources and equipment. The inspector talked with the staff, parents and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's details, learning records, staff suitability records, insurance and other relevant documentation.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector had discussions with the manager about policies and procedures, and methods for assessing and planning for children's progress. The inspector also discussed how staff carry out risk assessments and the arrangements for cleaning and maintenance of the premises.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. The provider has failed to organise staffing arrangements to meet the needs of all children. This means that children's safety and well-being are compromised. There have been several changes in staff recently and morale is low. Although the team meets staff-to-child ratios using staff from the provider's other nursery, there are significant weaknesses with the overall organisation and deployment of staff. For example, staff do not work together and communicate effectively. Risk assessment is poor and staff knowledge of when to act is weak. For example, staff ignore risks that occur in front of them and cannot identify the numerous risks and hazards to children. Staff fail to identify mice infestation in areas where children play, which can be a serious health hazard to children and adults. Sand is left after use and inappropriately placed floor mats result in children being exposed to trips and slips. The outdoor area is unclean, including

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

resources and mats, and there is clutter inside the children's playhouse. Arrangements for staff supervision are ineffective. The provider does not ensure that the manager receives support to help her focus on improving the quality of care and learning for children. Although the manager has a realistic view of the current practice, this has not ensured sufficient improvement to secure good outcomes for children. Self-evaluation is weak. The provider has failed to recognise and address breaches in the requirements or identify all areas for improvement. Staff have appropriate knowledge of child protection issues and know how to report concerns to relevant agencies. The provider follows suitable recruitment and vetting procedures.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff do not meet the learning needs of all the children. Staff expectations for children's achievements are too low. As a result, children do not make sufficient progress in their learning and development. Staff lack a clear understanding of how children learn and they have weak teaching skills. Although staff interact with children and have kind, affectionate relationships with them, they fail to question and challenge children during play. Staff complete observations and assessments but these are weak and do not provide sufficient information for staff to plan for the next steps in children's learning. Planning is therefore poor and lacks a variety of challenging activities. For example, on the day of the inspection limited activities had been planned and children were often left to occupy themselves with the resources available.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in safeguarding compromise children's safety and welfare. Children's health is compromised because the premises are unclean and staff do not consistently follow appropriate hygiene practices. For example, the daily and weekly cleaning schedules are not effective or implemented, and on the day of the inspection dirt, grime and mouse droppings were in areas accessed by the children both in the nursery and outdoor area. Weaknesses in staff deployment have a negative impact on children. For example, on the day of inspection the babies were not able to settle within their playroom as staff had not arrived. Babies were grouped together with older children, due to a lack of staff who had an understanding about the babies' individual needs. This meant younger children were often unsettled and anxious. While staff are caring and friendly, and comfort anxious children, this leaves older children with limited attention. Children stand alone or wander

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not make the progress they are capable of across all areas of learning. They do not acquire the skills and motivation to learn. At times, there is a lack of variety and appropriate challenge in activities. For example, on the day of inspection, some younger toddlers did not engage in a play dough activity that staff had already provided earlier in the day and they wandered around with little to do. Older children are not consistently challenged. They quickly become bored and agitated. Children are not stimulated enough to learn and gain the necessary key skills to help them in their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY543659 Local authority Islington Inspection number 1139947 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 42 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Little Acorns Day Nursery (UK) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 02085670800

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reference number

Little Acorns Day Nursery UK Limited registered in 2017. It is situated in Holloway, in the London Borough of Islington. The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery employs five members of staff, three of whom hold a qualification at level 3 and above. The nursery is funded to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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