Potter's House Preschool

Inspection of Potter's House Preschool Yapton Scout Hut, Drove Lane, Yapton, Arundel BN18 0EB

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

While managers provide a welcoming pre-school, the quality of teaching is weak. Staff do not swiftly identify when children are disengaged, which at times leads to a disorderly environment. Children run in and out of the main playroom where toys are scattered across the floor, which compromises their safety. Over the course of the day activities are not adapted, so children wander around the room and become unmotivated.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Staff plan activities that they believe children will enjoy. However, these activities are poorly focused and do not challenge children and meet their individual needs. Children quickly lose concentration. Staff do not use their knowledge of the learning and development requirements when playing alongside children to build upon what children already know and can do.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

As children play, staff talk to them and respond to what they are saying. On occasion, staff repeat back words and/or sentences to support children's language skills. However, staff wait for children to engage in conversation with them rather than using their observations to identify how they can extend children to make progress.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Although managers have an effective knowledge of safeguarding and know the procedures to record and report possible concerns, staff do not. The manager has not identified gaps in staff's safeguarding knowledge. This compromises children's safety and well-being and puts children at risk.

p.2

need to do better?

n The managers do not provide supervisions to feed back to staff on individual practice and identify training needs, with a particular focus on raising the quality of teaching. They do not regularly observe staff's practice. This does not foster a culture of mutual support or promote continuous improvement across the provision. n The managers do not maintain all of the necessary records to meet the requirements of their registration and to support children's health and welfare. There is no procedure to record medication given to children. This puts children at risk. n In addition, the procedures to inform parents of any accidents their children are involved in are not fully effective. Children's health and safety are compromised. n The managers do not keep a record of complaints. This means they are not able to demonstrate how complaints are investigated or the outcome of any complaints made. n The management of the setting is not well organised. Managers were unable to

p.2

need to do better?

5 December 2019 locate required documentation during the inspection. This could put children's safety at risk in the event of an emergency. For instance, the manager needed to source a new liability insurance certificate as the one on display had expired. Furthermore, Disclosure and Barring Service checks for all staff were also not initially available upon request. n The managers understand the learning and development requirements and their intentions for children to learn and develop. However, children do not experience meaningful teaching across the seven areas of learning as the managers have not identified weaknesses in staff's practice and swiftly acted on these. As a result, staff are not using their time with children to build on what they already know and can do. n Children show interest in some activities provided. They paint their hands to make prints and roll large wheels across the floor. However, staff do not

p.2

need to do better?

recognise opportunities to extend children's learning by planning opportunities for them to explore and develop their own ideas through play. This limits children's curiosity and positive attitudes towards learning. n Children's behaviour is managed well in most cases. Staff talk about 'kind hands' and have a number of strategies that they can use, but these are not implemented often enough to reinforce positive behaviours. n Managers understand the importance of evaluating practice. However, procedures are not robust enough to identify weaknesses in practice and help them to identify promptly any breaches of statutory requirements. n Staff understand the importance of good hygiene, and children wash their hands before snack and lunchtime. That said, staff fail to promote children's independence and offer overt adult support when children try to carry out skills of self-care. This means children do not learn the links between self-care

p.3

need to do better?

practice and good health. n The managers have implemented a system to identify whether children need additional support in their learning and/or care. They work well with other early years professionals to ensure that children receive intervention. n The managers and staff have good relationships with parents. Parents speak well of the pre-school and are encouraged to become involved. For example, the managers organise coffee mornings. Parents also access information about their children's progress through an online system. n The managers express a desire to make rapid improvements identified at the inspection.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff's knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures are weak. Despite recent training, staff have a limited knowledge of the possible signs of abuse and wider safeguarding issues such as the 'Prevent' duty guidance. The managers do not have procedures to monitor staff's knowledge of how to keep children safe. Staff do not have a clear understanding of the importance of informing parents of any accidents children sustain while in their care. They do not have a procedure to

p.3

Safeguarding

5 December 2019 record medicine that they have administered. This compromises children's health. Staff know who the designated safeguarding lead is at the pre-school and understand the need to report any concerns to her. They are suitably vetted and benefit from basic induction when they start.

p.3

Due date

ensure staff have a thorough knowledge and understanding of all safeguarding matters, particularly the 'Prevent' duty guidance, to keep children safe 06/01/2020

p.4

Due date

ensure procedures are in place to notify parents of any accidents children have at the pre-school 06/01/2020

p.4

Due date

ensure that clear procedures are in place to record medicine administered to children and that written permission is obtained from parents, including for non- prescribed medication 06/01/2020

p.4

Due date

ensure staff supervisions take place, providing staff with support and guidance, and identify any training needs 06/01/2020

p.4

Due date

keep a written record of any complaints and their outcome 06/01/2020

p.4

Due date

improve teaching skills and develop staff's knowledge of the learning and development requirements so that they can consider the stage of development of all children and plan interesting and challenging activities that build on what children already know and can do 06/01/2020

p.4

Due date

identify opportunities for children to do things for themselves and develop their independence skills. 06/01/2020

p.4

should:

5 December 2019 n ensure greater consistency in behaviour management techniques to help children to understand how to regulate their own behaviour n refine self-evaluation to identify weaknesses in practice and take steps to deal with any issues quickly.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY548393 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10126957 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.6

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 48 Name of registered person Barker, Sally-Ann Margaret

p.6

reference number

Telephone number 07375 379148 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.6

Information about this early years setting

Potter's House Preschool registered in 2017. It operates from the Yapton Scout Hut in Arundel, West Sussex. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The setting employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above.

p.6

Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor and outdoor activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Discussions were held with the manager, staff and parents. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, staff's qualifications and the policies used by the setting. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the manager within the forest school area. n The inspector and the manager completed a learning walk and discussed the curriculum intent.

p.6

Inspection activities

5 December 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

5 December 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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