Little Cygnets

Inspection of Little Cygnets Unit 3/4, Yarborough Court, Ulceby DN39 6RZ

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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

Children's welfare is not maintained. Continued weaknesses in staff knowledge of child protection and implementation of procedures, does not protect children's well- being. Deployment of staff is not always effective, resulting in some children wandering around the baby room, as they are not supported to engage. While some children receive comfort and reassurance, other children receive very little support to meet their individual needs. Supervision of children at mealtimes is poor in the baby room. This results in children's safety not being maintained.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff inconsistently manage children's behaviour, resulting in children receiving mixed messages. For example, children with additional needs are allowed to leave the snack table and walk around the room while continuing to eat. When other children try to do this, they are advised to sit down at the table while eating. This confuses children and does not support all children to learn and understand clear behavioural expectations.

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The provision is inadequate

While children enjoy participating in a range of activities, these are not always purposeful. Staff often focus on gaps in children's learning when considering what they want children to learn next. Staff do not always use their knowledge of children's all-round capabilities and development, to consistently support individual children to build on their prior knowledge and skills. Staff are, generally, skilled at supporting children's communication and language skills. For example, staff repeat words clearly and they put words children use into simple sentences.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management are weak, which does not ensure children benefit from a quality provision. Children's welfare is not protected because of significant and ongoing weaknesses in staff's safeguarding knowledge. While management are aware of some issues with staff conduct, little is done to challenge these staff. Other areas of poorer practice have not been identified by management during staff supervisions. n During lunchtime, staff are often too busy preparing food to provide quality interactions with most children. The youngest babies do receive time, attention and care to meet their needs. However, older toddlers are not always supervised while eating, which does not ensure their safety. n Deployment of staff is not always effective, especially in the baby room. Children with additional needs receive inconsistent support and attention. When staff spend one-on-one time with these children, they do provide them with some

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need to do better?

appropriate support. However, this is infrequent, resulting in children often wandering around the room, as no one engages them in purposeful play and learning.

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need to do better?

14 March 2022 n Some newer children wander around and remain upset for most of the inspection. While there are enough staff to provide these children with support to meet their needs, staff do little to comfort them. Whereas for other children, staff provide lots of cuddles and reassurance. n A healthy eating policy is in place, which parents are encouraged to adhere to. Main meals are provided by children's parents. Staff are responsible for heating and reheating these foods. However, procedures for the safe reheating of food, which management thought were in place, are not being implemented by staff. This does not protect children's good health. n Staff do not consistently support children to learn and understand clear rules and boundaries. For example, some children consistently climb on equipment and are not always supported to get down. Staff do not provide children with explanations to help them to learn about appropriate behavioural expectations.

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need to do better?

n Staff review children's progress. However, they do not always use what they know about children's all-round development to build on their prior knowledge. This is because staff mainly focus on gaps in children's learning. For example, staff have identified pre-school children are not making as much progress in mathematics. While activities are set out to support children in this area, staff do not encourage children to engage in the activity. This results in children not benefitting from the experience. n Staff do not take account of the needs and abilities of all children during planned group times. For example, an activity focusing on helping children to learn initial letter sounds is too advanced for the younger children in the pre-school room. The activity is also too long, which results in some children moving away and others beginning to fidget and not listen. n Management and staff confirm that independence is a key focus for the pre-

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need to do better?

school children to develop, so that they are ready for school. Staff confirm some children have the capabilities to put their own coats on. However, staff do not encourage children to do this as they put each child's coat on for them. This is another example of how staff are not consistently supporting children to build on their prior skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are not implementing the provision's own safeguarding procedures, to keep children safe from harm. For example, pre-existing injury forms completed by staff lack detail. There is also an inconsistent approach to when these should be completed and to how these are monitored. Some staff have recently attended child protection training. This has helped them become aware of injuries to children, which should raise their concerns. While it is positive staff have improved their knowledge in this area, it is concerning that this knowledge was previously lacking. Some staff also lack knowledge of the indicators associated with a child being at risk from extremist views and behaviours. Weaknesses in staff safeguarding knowledge have been raised at previous visits. It is concerning that weaknesses continue to arise in this area, which does not protect children's

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Due date

ensure child protection procedures are consistently implemented, with specific regard to obtaining and recording clear information about children's pre-existing injuries 28/03/2022

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Due date

ensure staff have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues, with specific regard to being familiar with the possible indicators of radicalisation and extremism 28/03/2022

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Due date

ensure younger children are adequately supervised, especially while eating 28/03/2022

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Due date

ensure deployment of staff is effective, so that children are appropriately supported, their individual needs met, and safety maintained 28/03/2022

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Due date

ensure clear procedures are implemented for the heating and reheating of food 28/03/2022

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Due date

ensure staff are consistent in implementing clear rules and boundaries to all younger children, including those with potential special educational needs and/or disabilities 28/03/2022

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Due date

ensure supervisions of staff are effective, so that weaknesses in practice are identified and relevant support, coaching and training provided. 28/03/2022

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Due date

ensure staff use their knowledge of individual children's development to consistently build on their prior knowledge and skills 09/05/2022

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Due date

ensure older children are consistently supported to develop their independence and sense of responsibility. 09/05/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482382 Local authority North Lincolnshire Inspection number 10226824 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Little Cygnets Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01469589867 Date of previous inspection 1 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Little Cygnets registered in 2014 and is located in Ulcerby. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The provider and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The provider carried out a joint observation of a planned activity with the manager. n Parents and carers shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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

14 March 2022 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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