Gawcott Pre-School

Inspection of Gawcott Pre-School Village Hall, Buckingham Road, Gawcott, Buckingham MK18 4JD

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children are not kept safe. There are gaps in some staff's safeguarding knowledge that mean they are not able to identify or respond accordingly when children may be at risk of harm. For example, the member of staff who is the designated safeguarding lead does not have a thorough understanding of the need to act promptly if concerns are raised about a child's welfare. In addition, she is unclear about how to respond to allegations about staff's conduct. The induction process for new staff is ineffective in ensuring they have thorough safeguarding knowledge.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff provide activities and resources that they think will appeal to children. However, they are not sufficiently focused on supporting children's learning and providing activities they find challenging and stimulating. Over the course of the day, children's behaviour deteriorates. Children often engage in mundane play and do not focus well on the activities on offer. When all children come together, such as for registration, some children become distracted. This hinders their learning and the learning of others.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff care about the children they look after. They greet children and their parents warmly and children settle quickly on arrival. They offer cuddles and kind words throughout the day. However, during recent staff changes, insufficient arrangements have been made to ensure that all children have a key person. As a result, not all children's individual emotional and developmental needs are met well.

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need to do better?

n The gaps in some staff's safeguarding knowledge put children at risk. The provider has not ensured that the recently appointed designated lead for safeguarding has the necessary knowledge to carry out this role effectively. For example, the designated lead is not aware that there does not have to be more than one concern about a child's safety before a referral can be made to the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Newer members of staff do not know enough about female genital mutilation or signs that children may be at risk from extreme views. They do not know what to do if concerned about a senior member of staff's conduct. n The curriculum is not ambitious enough. Staff lack understanding of how to plan learning experiences to build on children's existing abilities. Outside, although staff supervise children closely, there is limited teaching and activities do not have a clear focus on children's learning. Inside, when activities are planned

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need to do better?

around themes, the focus is more on the end result than on extending children's knowledge and skills. For example, when staff ask children to make pictures of fireworks, they over-direct how children should use the paint. In addition, when

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need to do better?

6 November 2019 children say they have not seen fireworks, staff do not help fill that gap in knowledge, which means that this experience is not meaningful to these children. These weaknesses lead to children often moving quickly between activities and becoming disruptive, such as by tipping toys onto the floor or running inside. Monitoring of the curriculum and staff's practice has not identified where improvements are needed. n The pre-school has been through a period of change. There is a very recently appointed acting manager. However, members of the committee have not identified that there are gaps in her understanding that mean she is not well equipped to fulfil this role. For example, she has a poor understanding of the different areas of learning that need to be taught. This lack of detailed knowledge has an impact on her ability to support other staff. The acting manager and chair of the committee show a positive attitude towards making

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need to do better?

the necessary changes. n Induction for new members of staff is weak. There is an assumption that because these staff hold suitable qualifications they will also have good enough knowledge of the early years foundation stage. There is insufficient support for staff returning to work in early education after a break of several years. n The provision is poorly organised. Necessary notifications to Ofsted about changes in hours and premises have not been made. Some children do not have an allocated key person. Some documentation was not available for inspection, including evidence of a Disclosure and Barring Service check for one member of staff, references for a newly appointed staff member and the paediatric first-aid certificate for another staff member. Although staff record all medication that is administered to children, they do not obtain the necessary written parental permission to do so. n There are too few experiences offered to children to help prepare them for life in

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need to do better?

modern Britain. Children do not take part in a wide range of activities that help them develop an understanding of diversity. n Parents speak very highly of the kind and caring staff. Parents appreciate staff's support with the challenges of raising children, and their words of encouragement and advice. Many parents report that they chose the pre-school because of the caring nature of the staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated lead's poor safeguarding knowledge means that she is not able to adequately fulfil the requirements of her role in keeping children safe. She is not able to monitor other staff's safeguarding knowledge accurately. In addition, staff new to the setting have not been provided with effective support and training to ensure they have a thorough understanding of all safeguarding matters. However, other staff have attended regular training and have a suitable understanding of how to recognise and respond to signs that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff supervise children well and ensure the premises are safe and secure.

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Due date

ensure the member of staff with lead responsibility for safeguarding has sufficient and accurate safeguarding knowledge to fulfil the requirements of the role to keep children safe 05/12/2019

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Due date

ensure all staff have a thorough understanding of all safeguarding matters, including the 'Prevent' duty guidance, female genital mutilation and escalating concerns, to protect children's welfare 05/12/2019

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Due date

ensure all staff receive suitable induction training to help them understand and fulfil the requirements of their role well, including their responsibility to keep children safe and how to support children's learning and development 05/12/2019

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Due date

provide those in leadership roles with support and guidance to enable them to monitor staff's practice effectively to improve teaching and the curriculum, in order to provide children with consistently challenging and engaging learning experiences 05/12/2019

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Due date

ensure all children are assigned a key person promptly to ensure that every child's care and learning are tailored to their individual needs 05/12/2019

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Due date

ensure written parental permission is obtained for each specific medication before administering to children 05/12/2019

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Due date

ensure all required records and documentation is accessible and available for inspection 05/12/2019

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Due date

6 November 2019 plan and deliver a broad range of learning experiences that help children learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and others. 01/01/2020

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550076 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10126992 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Gawcott Pre-School CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 07759 675346 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Gawcott Pre-School re-registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2017. It is located in the village hall in Gawcott, Buckinghamshire. The pre-school uses additional premises in the village twice a month. It is open from 8.15am to 3pm on Monday to Friday, term time only. The provider employs five members of staff, all of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 2 or 3. The provider receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The acting manager completed a learning walk with the inspector and explained how the provision is organised. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the acting manager. n Parents spoke with the inspector, who took account of their views. n The inspector held meetings with the acting manager and the chair of the committee to find out more about monitoring of staff's practice and future plans for the provision. n The inspector spoke with staff and observed their interactions with children.

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Inspection activities

6 November 2019 We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

6 November 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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