Alert Kids Day Nursery

Inspection of Alert Kids Day Nursery 806 High Road Leyton, London E10 6AE

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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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

The provider has failed to meet a number of requirements of the early years foundation stage. This results in the overall quality of care and education for children being poor. The provider does not thoroughly assess suitability of all staff and does not ensure they have a secure knowledge of key aspects of safeguarding. This puts children at risk. Due to poor staff deployment and compromised staff-to- child ratios, children's needs are not met at times during the day. In addition, the provider does not ensure that there are suitable people to take charge in the absence of the nursery manager. Furthermore, staff lack the skills and knowledge required to care for and educate the children. Staff do not complete statutory assessments or share information about children's progress with parents to ensure that gaps in children's learning are identified and closed. Staff do not follow appropriate hygiene practice and do not ensure that children can access fresh

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The provision is inadequate

drinking water. Nevertheless, older children enjoy activities that help them to develop some skills needed for their move to school. For example, children enjoy counting small sorting animals, while using tweezers to sort them according to the colour or type. Activities like this also help children to develop their hand-to-eye coordination.

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need to do better?

n The provider does not have a secure knowledge and understanding of all statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register. He does not monitor the quality of the provision effectively to ensure any breaches and weaknesses are identified and addressed promptly. n Some staff do not have appropriate knowledge and understanding of all safeguarding matters to keep children safe. They do not know what signs might indicate that children are being exposed to extreme views and/or are at risk of female genital mutilation. n The provider does not follow all requirements of safe recruitment procedures to assess suitability of staff. For example, the provider does not cross-reference and challenge discrepancies in references and in the employment history provided, and does not ensure that references requested are from previous employers and/or managers. n The provider does not ensure staff have clear knowledge and understanding of

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need to do better?

their roles and responsibilities to comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation, including hygiene requirements to avoid any cross-infection. For example, staff do not ensure children wash their hands before each meal and they do not arrange snack time to support children's good health and to eliminate cross-contamination. For example, children sit touching their feet and the floor with their hands and then take their breadsticks. Some of the children also drop these on the floor, pick them up and eat them without staff noticing.

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need to do better?

8 October 2019 Furthermore, some equipment is not age-appropriate and affects children's ability to sit and eat comfortably. For example, children under two years old sit at the table which is too high, resulting in the table top being at their neck level. This means children do not have an opportunity to sit appropriately for mealtimes. In addition, some staff do not use the safest techniques of picking up children. n The provider does not ensure that there is a named deputy who is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager's absence at all times. In addition, they do not meet the ratio requirement to meet the needs of all children, particularly during the morning. For example, in the morning of the inspection there was no manager, deputy or capable third in charge in place, to ensure the smooth running of the provision. During that time, staffing arrangements were poor and did not meet the ratio requirements to meet all children's needs. Consequently,

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need to do better?

children did not receive appropriate quality of care and education. n Although each child has an assigned key person, the key-person system in place is not effective to meet all children's individual needs. For example, babies who are newer to the setting do not have required reassurance and emotional support for almost two hours in the morning until their assigned key person arrives to start their shift. This does not help children become familiar with the setting, offer a settled relationship for them or meet their emotional needs. n Staff do not ensure that fresh drinking water is available and easily accessible to children at all times. For example, children are given water only at snack times and mealtimes. There is no access to water for younger children during other times of the day. Although older children have a jug with water and cups in the room, they are not always easily visible and/or accessible to children to help

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need to do better?

themselves. n The manager does not ensure that staff complete the required progress check for all children aged between two and three years. Therefore, they do not identify children's strengths or any areas where they may need further support. This means that children, who are possibly not developing within the typical range of development, may not getting the support needed in a timely manner to help them rapidly progress. This particularly has an impact on those children who learn English as an additional language and do not receive targeted support. n Some staff do not have a good knowledge of the early years foundation stage. They do not understand how to plan and provide age-appropriate and challenging activities to meet each child's learning needs and to help them progress towards their next steps. Some staff do not know how to engage children in purposeful interactions to help them make good progress.

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need to do better?

Sometimes, all children are asked to join in group activities and expected to sit for too long without quality interaction. Some activities are uninspiring. As a result, some children become bored or restless. n Staff are calm and caring. They teach children about respect and manners, and regularly remind them to say 'please' and 'thank you'. n Parents report that they are satisfied with the care and learning opportunities their children receive. They feel that staff are warm and caring and keep them informed about their child's progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider does not follow safe recruitment procedures to check that staff are suitable for their role. Not all staff have a clear understanding of all safeguarding matters, such as the 'Prevent' duty and female genital mutilation. Although all staff attended safeguarding training, the provider does not monitor that it is effective and any gaps in their knowledge are identified and tackled promptly. The provider does not ensure that there is an appointed senior member of staff available at all times at the nursery to smoothly run the provision and to deal with any emergencies. The ratio requirement is not met at all times, which affects the quality of care provided to children. In addition, some staff do not always use the safest way to pick up or move children to ensure their safety. These breaches compromise children's safety and welfare.

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Due date

ensure all staff have appropriate knowledge and understanding of all safeguarding matters, with particular regard to how to recognise and prevent children from being exposed to extreme views and/or female genital mutilation 08/11/2019

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Due date

implement effective recruitment procedures to ensure the suitability of all staff 08/11/2019

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Due date

ensure all staff have clear knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities to comply with requirements of health and safety legislation and to meet children's health and welfare needs effectively 08/11/2019

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Due date

ensure ratio requirements are met at all times and staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children 08/11/2019

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Due date

8 October 2019 improve key-person arrangements to ensure they are able to meet the child's individual needs, to help the child become familiar with the setting and offer a settled relationship for the child 08/11/2019

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Due date

ensure all equipment used is fit for purpose and suitable for the age of children cared for, in particular, the tables used for younger children 08/11/2019

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Due date

ensure fresh drinking water is available and easily accessible to children at all times 08/11/2019

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Due date

ensure there is a named deputy who is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager's absence at all times 08/11/2019

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Due date

ensure staff complete a review of children's progress and provide parents and/or carers with a short-written summary of their child's development, when a child is aged between two and three years 08/11/2019

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Due date

improve the quality of education provided and ensure that all staff have a good knowledge of the early years foundation stage; understand how to plan and provide age-appropriate and challenging activities to meet each child's learning needs; and know how to engage children in purposeful interactions to help them make good progress. 08/11/2019

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY282548 Local authority London Borough of Waltham Forest Inspection number 10103049 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 4 Total number of places 76 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Alert Group Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 558 8503 Date of previous inspection 21 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Alert Kids Day Nursery registered in 2004. It is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm for most of the year. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The provider employs 24 members of staff, 16 of whom hold relevant childcare qualification at level 2 or above.

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Inspection activities

n This inspection was conducted following Ofsted's risk assessment process. n The inspector conducted a learning walk with the deputy manager at the earliest opportunity to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed care routines and activities provided throughout the day, both inside and outdoors. n The inspector held discussions with the provider, staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector conducted a joint observation with the deputy manager. n The inspector sampled a range of documents, including those relating to safeguarding, staff suitability and training.

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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

8 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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