Whipper-snappers Daycare Nursery and Kids Club

Inspection of Whipper-snappers Daycare Nursery and Kids Club Felmoor Farm, Braintree Road, Felsted, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3EF

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is inadequate

Significant weaknesses in leadership and management mean that children's welfare and safety are compromised. This is because the providers have failed to identify or remove hazards, such as low-level trailing wires and string. Children can gain access to a staff toilet containing a dirty mop. Cots pushed too closely together enable very young children to reach each other while left unsupervised in the sleep room. In addition, crash mats and children's discarded shoes, coats and wellington boots are left on the floor, which pose a tripping hazard. Minimal supervision and behaviour management by staff have resulted in a high number of unnecessary accidents and incidents. For example, children have had falls from the same equipment and suffered injuries that they have inflicted on each other, such as bites.

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The provision is inadequate

Some staff fail to recognise or understand their individual and collective responsibility to keep children safe and healthy. They are not always aware of where children are or what they are doing. For example, poor supervision in the big barn leads to children behaving in an overly exuberant manner. Staff do not implement consistent strategies that help support young children's understanding about the consequences of their actions on themselves and others. Children who are not engaged in activities spend their time running around, climbing on furniture and equipment. Staff do not explain the importance of wearing socks, shoes or coats to children when they play outside. There are potential low-level hazards outdoors, such as large holes hidden in uneven ground and a rusty nail protruding from rotten wood. The providers do not ensure that staff comply with health and safety legislation. For instance, staff do not make certain that children wash their

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The provision is inadequate

The providers do not ensure that staff's ongoing assessments of children's progress are accurate. Children's actual levels of development are underestimated and, therefore, they are not provided with sufficient challenge. Some children become bored and take part in dangerous behaviour, such as kicking equipment and exploring the lunch trolley containing trays of hot food.

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need to do better?

n The providers do not ensure that staff's professional development is promoted effectively. Current supervision arrangements are not robust. They do not identify staff underperformance in order to raise teaching skills and improve practice. The manager and staff working with children do not understand their responsibility to promote children's safety and well-being. n The providers do not ensure that all staff assess children's individual abilities accurately. Activities often lack sufficient challenge and children quickly

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need to do better?

17 October 2019 disengage from their learning. Staff do not sufficiently plan challenging activities that build on what each child knows and can do. Therefore, children are not supported to make good progress. n Children are not encouraged to learn about the importance of managing personal hygiene or how to promote their good health. They go out to play in bare feet and inappropriate clothing for the weather conditions. Staff do not remind them to wash their hands when they come inside. n Staff do not provide parents with information that gives them the opportunity to support their child's learning at home. While staff encourage them at times to make use of 'home-school bags', these do not contain accurate information that supports children's next steps in learning. However, parents are encouraged to share information about their children's care and learning needs when they first start. n Staff in the pre-school barn encourage children to use visual clues. Sugar paper

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need to do better?

letters are hidden in trays of brightly coloured rice. Some children have fun as they identify the initial letter of their name. With the help of staff, they begin to learn what this letter is called and the sound it makes. n Children enjoy a nutritionally balanced diet. Their individual dietary needs, such as allergies and preferences, are taken into consideration. The chef and kitchen staff use this information to plan a menu that protects children from foods that may harm them. n Parents say that they feel listened to and that they know who their child's key person is. They add that they 'love the outdoor space'. Children build close relationships with their key person and other staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The providers have failed to take appropriate action to keep children safe in the nursery. Some staff consistently fail to recognise safety issues or remove potential hazards to protect children from injury. This places children at serious risk of harm. Staff do not teach children how to keep themselves safe. However, staff have completed safeguarding training and have an adequate understanding of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare, at home or elsewhere. They are able to describe the action they would take if they had concerns regarding a colleague's practice.

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Due date

17 October 2019 take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of children at all times 07/11/2019

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Due date

manage children's behaviour appropriately to ensure their safety and promote their understanding of how to keep themselves safe 07/11/2019

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Due date

ensure that premises, including outdoor spaces, are fit for purpose and suitable for the age of children cared for 07/11/2019

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Due date

put in place effective risk assessments and take action to minimise or remove hazards that expose children to unnecessary risks 07/11/2019

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Due date

comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation; this is with particular reference to any recommendations raised by Environmental Health 07/11/2019

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Due date

ensure that children's medical information is kept confidential and is only accessible and available to those who have a right or professional need to see it 07/11/2019

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Due date

ensure that the manager and staff have appropriate training, skills and knowledge and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities 07/11/2019

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Due date

ensure that staff supervision arrangements are effective in monitoring personal effectiveness, identifying ongoing training needs and tackling under-performance 07/11/2019

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Due date

ensure that information gained from assessing children's development is accurate so that staff have a precise understanding of children's skills and abilities 07/11/2019

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Due date

17 October 2019 ensure the educational programmes provide appropriately challenging experiences that capture all children's interests, supports their learning and helps them to make good progress 07/11/2019

p.4

Due date

put in place an effective two-way flow of information with parents so that they are kept well informed about how they can support their child's learning at home. 07/11/2019

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Setting details

Unique reference number 402288 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10125330 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 to 11 Total number of places 149 Number of children on roll 331

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Name of registered person

Whipper-snappers Day Care Nursery Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01371 821131 Date of previous inspection 2 February 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Whipper-snappers Daycare Nursery and Kids Club registered in 2004 and operates all year round. The nursery employs 45 members of childcare staff. Of these, 37 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including two at level 6 and four with early years teacher status. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, and the kids club operates from 7.30am to 8.30am and from 3.15pm to 6.30pm. During school holidays the club operates from 7.30am until 6.30pm.

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Inspection activities

n The inspectors reviewed records and the providers' suitability checks of their staff. n One inspector observed staff practice with the manager, and together they discussed and evaluated an activity. n The inspectors sought the views of children and parents during the inspection. n The inspectors reviewed information provided by other professional agencies that the providers, manager and staff liaise with. n The inspectors discussed how the manager reflects on and develops future practice.

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Inspection activities

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

17 October 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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