The Hall School Baby Unit

Inspection of The Hall School Baby Unit The Grange, Rickmansworth Road, NORTHWOOD, Middlesex HA6 2RB

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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 quality of education is poor. The management team recognises that teaching is not good enough for all children. However, the curriculum is not ambitious and lacks challenge. Staff working with older toddlers are stronger teachers; however, teaching is weak and inconsistent for the youngest children who attend. For example, babies show a keen interest in looking at pictures in books. They eagerly imitate the sounds of the animals they see on each page. However, staff are not attentive to this. They fail to extend babies' language skills and inaccurately assess their communication and language development. Despite knowing that some quieter children require their support during play, staff fail to engage with them. As a result, some children show poor progress in their learning and development. Older toddlers' interests are promoted well. For example, they enjoy counting cars and the steps that lead to the garden, and learn about shapes. This helps to

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The provision is inadequate

support their understanding of mathematical concepts. In general, children behave well. This helps to support their confidence and self-esteem. Children's basic needs are promoted during day-to-day routines.

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need to do better?

n Managers do not ensure that areas used by children are safe. Staff do not conduct thorough risk assessments. As a result, hazards are not removed. This leads to accidents involving children at the nursery and means that their safety is at risk. n Staff do not follow appropriate procedures for logging accidents and/or injuries. At times, they fail to record information about accidents, including the date, times, any first aid applied and how parents are informed. This raises serious concerns about the welfare and well-being of children at the nursery. n Although staff supervise children, they are not deployed effectively to support children's learning. For example, when staff provide cover for their colleagues in other rooms or work with a new group of children, they do not have clear information about children's learning needs. Consequently, they are unable to provide an effective curriculum to boost children's learning opportunities.

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need to do better?

n Assessment of children's learning and development is not rigorous enough. Despite conducting assessments to track children's progress, some staff are unable to identify the next steps in children's learning. Furthermore, assessment information is not used effectively to promote children's learning. As a result, children make slow or no progress from their starting points. n Parents praise the attention staff give to their children, especially when they first start coming to nursery. They feel that staff take the necessary steps to ensure their children are safe to return to nursery following the COVID-19 restrictions. There is an effective, gradual settling-in process. This helps children to familiarise themselves with their new routines and ensure they are comfortable

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need to do better?

15 November 2021 at the nursery. Managers seek the views of parents to continuously review and improve practice. n Children play indoors and outside. They enjoy fresh air and exercise daily. Staff promote children's understanding of healthy lifestyles well. They talk to children about their food and how healthy eating has a positive impact on their bodies. Children learn about personal hygiene and wash their hands regularly, including before meals and after toileting or outdoor play. Staff continuously monitor children who are sleeping. This ensures that they are safe and secure. n Staff take part in regular supervision meetings with managers to discuss the progress of their key children and their own well-being and welfare. Staff praise the quality of the training they receive at the nursery. They take part in meetings and inset days to develop their skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff attended safeguarding training recently to refresh their skills and understand safeguarding procedures. They know the key indicators of child abuse and what to do in the event of a safeguarding concern. Managers and staff also know the steps to take if an allegation is made against a member of staff. They understand the role of safeguarding agencies in helping them to protect children. Staff complete first-aid training. However, when accidents happen, they do not always follow appropriate procedures. At times, they fail to complete thorough risk assessments of the premises to ensure the environment is safe for children. Therefore, children's safety is not always assured.

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Due date

ensure all areas of the environment are risk assessed prior to children accessing them 04/01/2022

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Due date

ensure that accidents and/or injuries involving children are recorded in line with requirements 04/01/2022

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Due date

ensure that staff are consistently deployed to provide children with effective support and to enhance children's experiences and learning 04/01/2022

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Due date

15 November 2021 assess and understand children's development stages accurately to provide them with an ambitious curriculum that matches their learning needs 04/01/2022

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Due date

provide challenge for children during play to strengthen learning across the curriculum. 04/01/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY381624 Local authority Hillingdon Inspection number 10214199 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 17 Number of children on roll 25

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Name of registered person

Suzanne Margaret Goodwin and Laura Goodwin-Freeman Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01923 822807 Date of previous inspection 26 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Hall School Baby Unit registered in 2009. It operates within the premises of The Hall School, which is an independent school in Northwood, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The setting operates during term time only. Sessions are Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.30pm. There are nine members of childcare staff working with the children, all of whom hold appropriate qualifications from level 2 to 5. The setting offers funded education for children aged three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 setting. n The deputy manager and the inspector conducted a learning walk of the areas used by the children and discussed the setting's curriculum aims. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and the children and reviewed the impact on the quality of education for children. n Parents' views were taken account of by the inspector. n The inspector sampled documentation, including evidence of staff's suitability and children's records.

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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

15 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.

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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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