Wise Owls Day Nursery At Abingdon

Inspection of Wise Owls Day Nursery At Abingdon East Lodge, Milton Hill, Steventon, ABINGDON, Oxfordshire OX13 6BD

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Children's health and safety are not assured because there are breaches of the requirements relating to safeguarding and welfare. The provider fails to ensure that the manager and staff have sufficient knowledge to carry out effective risk assessments. For example, babies are exposed to risks such as trailing wires as they play under baby gyms. Staff fail to effectively identify and minimise risks posed by Christmas decorations, such as glass ornaments that are within easy reach of young children. Staff do not provide suitable spaces for babies and young children to sleep safely or undisturbed. Children become unsettled and overtired as they are placed to sleep on floor mats in a draughty room. Staff lack the skill and knowledge of how to meet the care and learning needs of the youngest children.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Overall, the curriculum to help children gain knowledge and develop new skills across all age groups is weak. Children's learning experiences vary across the nursery. Older children receive better support and are provided with purposeful activities that motivate them to listen and learn about the world around them. For example, they excitedly join in song time and ask to sing about different animals when they pretend to be 'sleeping bunnies'. However, babies are not given the teaching support they need to help develop their vocabulary or to become curious learners. They do not benefit from strong attachments with staff and remain unsettled. Older children are well behaved and show positive attitudes to learning.

p.2

need to do better?

n The provider fails to ensure they meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage. There have been a number of breaches identified. The provider's ineffective induction of staff, including the manager, and the weak monitoring of the setting does not ensure that staff meet their roles and responsibilities. This has a serious impact on the well-being of staff, who often feel unsupported, and has caused some staff to resign. n The new manager is starting to make changes at the setting. For example, she has improved food safety and encourages outdoor play. She is committed to gaining continuity of staff for the children. However, the lack of coaching and support from the provider and a consistent staff team impacts on the manager's capacity to make improvements in the setting. n All children sit together for social mealtimes and enjoy the healthy food offered. Staff in the older room encourage children to be independent at snack time,

p.2

need to do better?

such as when they butter their fruit bread. They sit with the children and share conversations with one another. Older children demonstrate good behaviour. n The provider fails to ensure that staff have received training, specifically in the care of babies. Currently, the room for children under two years of age does not have a person in charge who has the required knowledge and skills to work with

p.2

need to do better?

25 November 2021 the youngest children. Often, babies and toddlers lack purposeful interactive support from the staff in play. This hinders their learning and development. During the inspection, staff needed guidance from the inspector on how to engage and distract crying babies. n Overall, the educational programme for children is poor. Staff in the room for children aged under two lack skill and knowledge of how to support children's personal, social and emotional development and communication and language. This often means that children wander around unstimulated, and planned activities, such as playing with 'gloop', lack clear learning intentions from the staff. Babies next learning steps are not being implemented by staff. n The key-person system and the many staff changes do not effectively support children's well-being. Younger children, specifically, do not benefit from good- quality, nurturing support from a regular care giver. The staff have an

p.2

need to do better?

inconsistent understanding of the children's individual needs. For example, they do not make sure that unsettled babies have their home comforter. This impacts on babies' personal development and building strong relationships. n Staff are not well trained in carrying out effective risk assessments. Consequently, hazards remain in the baby room, which compromise children's safety. n Parents' feedback is positive. They talk about a daily communicative handover from the staff. The manager encourages them to get involved in community events, such as the harvest festival and giving to the food bank. n The provider has failed to identify a member of staff to act as special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). The arrangements in place to identify and support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are not good enough. Staff lack training in identifying and supporting children who are not developing in line with expectations.

p.3

need to do better?

n The premises and equipment, particularly cots and bedding, are not used and organised in a way that meets the needs of the children. On the day of the inspection, babies were cared for outdoors or in the toddler dining area. Sleeping arrangements do not consistently meet babies' needs. n Although ratios are maintained, staffing arrangements and staff deployment to ensure children's needs are met is not adequate enough. On many occasions, staff are left to care for babies who need a lot of attention, care and support. The system to ensure the most-capable, well-trained staff are deployed effectively is currently not working. On occasions, when babies lack stimulation and nurturing support, they show unwanted behaviours.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider cannot assure children's welfare. They have not ensured that the new manager and staff have a consistent knowledge of safeguarding across the nursery team. However, the staff do know where to go to look up information and to make a referral. The designated lead for safeguarding lacks experience and knowledge of what to do if an allegation was made against a member of staff. Appropriate

p.3

Safeguarding

25 November 2021 recruitment and vetting procedures of new staff are in place, such as Disclosure and Barring Service checks. This helps the provider to gain an understanding of staff's suitability when making employment decisions. The manager has started to review accidents and existing injuries to help to identify any patterns or concerns that could indicate a child may be at risk of harm.

p.3

Due date

improve the arrangements in place for the coaching and supervision of staff to improve their personal effectiveness and develop a culture of mutual support, teamwork and continuous improvement, which encourages the confidential discussion of sensitive issues 17/12/2021

p.4

Due date

improve the key-person system and make sure that every child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs to help the child become familiar with the setting, and offer a settled relationship for the child 17/12/2021

p.4

Due date

take immediate action to effectively identify and minimise risks to children, with particular regard to hazards in the baby room 17/12/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure there is a trained SENCo in place to help identify and effectively support children with SEND 17/12/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure staff meet the individual needs of children at sleep times, with particular regard to the good use of the premises and equipment 17/12/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure staffing arrangements and the deployment of staff meet the needs of all children to ensure their safety and learning 17/12/2021

p.4

Due date

25 November 2021 ensure staff who hold designated lead roles for safeguarding hold a secure knowledge of safeguarding matters, including the procedure to follow in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff 17/12/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure the member of staff in charge of the children under two years of age has suitable experience of working with this age group and at least half of all other staff have received training that specifically addresses the care of babies 17/12/2021

p.5

Due date

ensure the manager and all staff receive induction training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. 17/12/2021

p.5

Due date

improve staff's teaching skills and knowledge of how to effectively support children's personal, social and emotional development and communication and language skills. 17/12/2021

p.5

Setting details

Unique reference number 2546899 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10214815 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.6

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.6

inspection

Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Wise Owls Club Limited

p.6

reference number

Telephone number 01628620013 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.6

Information about this early years setting

Wise Owls Day Nursery At Abingdon registered in 2019. It is based in Steventon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The nursery is run by a limited company, who also run 10 other early years and childcare settings. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm for most weeks of the year. There are currently six staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery receives education funding for children aged three and four years.

p.6

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n Parents gave feedback to the inspector about the nursery. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together.

p.6

Inspection activities

25 November 2021 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

25 November 2021 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.

p.7

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.8

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8