Little Diamonds Childcare Centre

Little Diamonds Childcare Centre 30 Willington Terrace, WALLSEND, Tyne and Wear NE28 7BB

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Inspection date 2 May 2019 Previous inspection date 25 October 2016

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Inadequate 4 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4 Outcomes for children Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

n Safeguarding is weak. Staff do not have a secure understanding of how to manage and minimise risks to children, particularly during mealtimes. n Staff working with younger children spend time out of the room carrying out routine activities. Ratios are not always maintained and children's safety cannot be assured. n There are times when children are not provided with sufficient food to meet their dietary needs and support their good health. n Younger children do not consistently have the support of their key person to help them to become settled in the nursery and to meet their individual needs. n Teaching is weak and is not sufficiently responsive to the individual learning needs of the children who attend. Children do not make the progress they should. n Assessments and observations of children's learning are not completed frequently enough or focused on what they need to learn next. Children are not supported well

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This provision is inadequate

enough to make good progress. n The provider does not use supervision effectively to provide the manager with the support, coaching and training she needs in order to continually improve her knowledge and support children's needs effectively. n Self-evaluation is not sufficiently rigorous to clearly identify areas for development, including professional development to improve the overall provision and the learning opportunities for children.

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It has the following strengths

n Older children develop strong relationships with staff and other children. They enjoy activities outdoors, including drawing around each other on the ground with chalk.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date improve risk assessment procedures to ensure all risks to children's safety are managed and addressed as swiftly as possible 03/05/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children and ensure their safety 08/05/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure children's needs are met with specific regard to the provision of food and appropriate portion size 08/05/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure children have consistent access to a key person who meets their individual needs and helps them to settle into the nursery 08/05/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

improve the quality of teaching and ensure activities provided for children meet their individual needs, interests and stage of development and challenge their learning across all areas 15/05/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure that accurate observations and assessments are completed regularly and are used to shape learning experiences that help every child to make good progress 15/05/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

ensure the manager is provided with appropriate support to ensure she has the skills to develop the effectiveness of her role and improve outcomes for children. 29/05/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n use self-evaluation to identify and address any weaknesses in provision and to help identify where professional development can be completed to improve the overall quality of practice.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n This was a priority inspection following concerns raised about how children are kept safe and well at the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. Staff do not manage and minimise risks to very young children to ensure their safety and well-being. For example, staff do not consistently use straps provided to securely fasten children into chairs at mealtimes. They are aware that children are capable of climbing out of their chairs but fail to address this. Babies' and very young children's safety is further compromised due to ineffective staff deployment. Staff spend lengths of time out of the room changing children's nappies. This means ratios are not always maintained and children's safety is put at risk. During the inspection, one member of staff was unable to meet the safety needs of the five very young children she was left with. The newly appointed manager received some support from the provider during her induction. However, this support has not continued to help the manager improve her skills and knowledge. Despite this, the manager has recently

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is inadequate

reviewed some aspects of the provision and is helping staff to improve elements of the planning and assessment arrangements. She has identified some areas where practice can be improved in relation to teaching and learning. However, the self-evaluation process is not rigorous enough to identify the significant weaknesses in practice, especially in relation to safeguarding and welfare.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Although staff are well qualified, they do not all demonstrate a good enough understanding of how to support young children's learning and development. The range of activities and experiences provided for children, particularly for those under the age of two years, is poor. Staff do not always take account of individual children's learning needs when planning activities for them. For example, staff plan activities to help one- year-old children develop an understanding of animals that come out at night. Most activities presented to younger children are not focused upon their interests and are often inaccessible. Activities such as cylinder-shaped blocks are placed in a large builder's tray positioned on a stand and many of the babies cannot reach. They remain out for the whole day, despite very few children accessing them. They lack stimulation and a good level of challenge. Most staff have limited knowledge of what children know

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

and can do. Assessments of children's learning are not completed frequently enough to provide an accurate picture of where children are in their learning. Three-year-old children have access to interesting activities. However, they are not sufficiently focused on the skills children need to learn next. Children do not make the progress they should.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Significant weaknesses in leadership and management have a negative impact on children's care and well-being. There are times when there is insufficient food available to adequately feed the number of children who attend the nursery. This has an impact on children's physical health. Very young children do not always have access to their key person to help them develop a settled relationship and to meet their individual needs. There are occasions when children are unexpectedly moved into the room with the older children where staff do not have a full understanding of how to meet their needs effectively. Staff morale is very low. Despite this, staff are professional enough for this not to have an impact on the children and their families. Children show they are motivated, behave well and enjoy attending the nursery. For example, when older children draw around each other outdoors, they stand back and laugh and say, 'That

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

doesn't look like me!' Parents are complimentary and share with staff what their children enjoy at home.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Many children are working below the expected range of development for their age and make limited progress in many areas of their learning. Staff do not support and challenge them well enough to make the progress they are capable of. Children are not sufficiently prepared with the skills they require for school. Not enough focus is placed on children who are slower to develop key skills and they are not supported effectively enough to help them catch up in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY423431 Local authority North Tyneside Inspection number 10104109 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Rascals Playtime Childcare Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 October 2016 Telephone number 01912634022

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reference number

Little Diamonds Childcare Centre registered in 2011. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or higher, including the manager who holds early years teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, 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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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