Stepping Stones Child Care & Education

Summary of outcome

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills is leading Ofsted's work into how regulated early years and childcare providers in England have delivered child- centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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Summary of outcome

All early years providers must meet the legal requirements in the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. If we find that a provider is not meeting the requirements, we can take action to ensure they put matters right.

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Summary of outcome

On 30 March 2021 we received concerns that this provider was not meeting some of these requirements. On 31 March 2021 we conducted a regulatory telephone call to discuss the concerns. Following that call Ofsted made the decision to suspend the provider's registration.

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Summary of outcome

The purpose of the suspension is to allow time to investigate our belief that a child may be exposed to a risk of harm and for any necessary steps to be taken to eliminate or reduce the risk of harm.

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Summary of outcome

On 7 April 2021 we carried out an announced visit to the setting. We found that the provider was not meeting a number of requirements. We served a welfare requirements notice. This is a legal notice that requires the provider to take the actions below within the timescales set out.

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Summary of outcome

The provider will be able to give parents further information about this.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure children do not leave the premises unsupervised.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure children are adequately supervised and decide how to deploy staff to ensure children's needs are met; children must usually be within sight and hearing of staff and always within sight or hearing.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure children and staff are not exposed to risks and demonstrate how these risks are being managed.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure that people looking after children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their roles. Ensure that there are effective systems in place to ensure staff are suitable.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure information about staff qualifications, identity checks and recruitment and vetting processes that have been carried out, is recorded.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure that the manager holds at least a full and relevant level 3 qualification and at least half of all staff hold at least a full and relevant level 2 qualification.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure staff have appropriate qualifications, training, skills and knowledge and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure newly appointed staff receive induction training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Induction training must include information about emergency evacuation, safeguarding, child protection and health and safety issues.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure that at least one person, who has a current paediatric first aid certificate, is on the premises and available at all times when children are present, to deal with any accidents or injuries.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure that a designated practitioner, who has attended an appropriate training course, is available to take lead responsibility for safeguarding within the setting. Ensure that they can provide support, advice and guidance to staff on an ongoing basis and on any specific safeguarding issue as required.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure procedures in the event of a child going missing at or away from the setting are clear and followed.

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Summary of outcome

n Ensure a written record is kept of accidents/injuries sustained by the child. Ensure parents are informed on the same day or as soon as reasonably practicable after.

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Summary of outcome

On 14 April 2021 we carried out a monitoring visit to the setting to check the provider's compliance with the welfare requirement notice.

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Summary of outcome

We continued to have concerns about the provision. The provider's registration remained suspended.

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Summary of outcome

On 15 June 2021 the provider tendered their resignation. Ofsted accepted the resignation.

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Summary of outcome

The provider is no longer registered with Ofsted.

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Publication of complaints

We publish details of complaints made against childminders, home childcarers and childcare providers where we or the provider have taken action in order to meet legal requirements.

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Publication of complaints

We publish details of complaints on our website for a period of five years.

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Publication of complaints

For further information about the complaints process please view the Concerns and complaints about childminders and childcare providers leaflet .

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