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 Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Although children take part in a broad range of activities, these are not always planned as well as possible to reflect their individual learning needs. Despite this, children enjoy their time at the setting and benefit from mostly warm, caring interactions from staff. Children make choices about what they want to play with from a range of activities. Children behave well. For example, older children learn to manage their feelings and emotions as they receive positive praise from staff. This helps children to develop confidence and self-esteem.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff have opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Since the last inspection, the manager has focused support and training, for example on raising staff's awareness of how to match activities to children's learning and identify next steps. Children who are confident and eager to engage with staff receive attention and good-quality interactions. However, quieter children are sometimes not included well in activities or discussions. Despite this, children develop some good communication and language skills. For example, staff read familiar stories to children to develop their listening and attention skills. Children enjoy singing songs during circle time. In addition, some staff use skilful questioning to encourage children to share their thoughts and ideas.

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The provision requires improvement

However, there are inconsistencies in teaching. During group activities, the raised voices of staff result in high noise levels which make it harder for younger children to contribute and develop their speaking and listening skills. Although staff observe and plan for individual children's learning, they do not always implement these plans well enough to ensure children's steady progress. As a result, the curriculum intent for some children is not clear or ambitious. Staff communicate well with parents and children in a positive and respectful way. They teach children how to behave and treat others with respect. Staff support children well to learn how to be safe during activities.

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need to do better?

n The manager recognises the areas for development and has a clear vision for providing high-quality care and learning. The team has started with identifying an improvement plan, to include parents' and staff's feedback. There is a shared commitment to prioritising staff recruitment and professional development. However, this is in the early stages and has not had enough time to have a full impact. n Since the last inspection, the manager has supported staff to raise their awareness of how to plan for the curriculum. She has begun to mentor staff in implementing this effectively. However, the manager has not been able to implement all the improvements she would like to. As a result, staff do not

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need to do better?

10 May 2022 always provide young children with meaningful interactions to help them make good progress. Nevertheless, recent changes to the environment ensure children can access resources that support all areas of development. n Leadership and management of the setting are inconsistent because there remains no suitably qualified deputy to take charge in the manager's absence. The provider, who is the manager, has oversight of the setting, but this is not yet effective enough to ensure children receive high-quality learning and development opportunities. The provider is aware of the requirement to have a deputy and recruitment plans are in place to address this. n Staff focus on the children at this setting being happy and settled. They build close relationships with children and their families. Staff generally know the children's interests and talk to them about what they are interested in. This mostly helps staff to plan activities that children enjoy. However, staff are not

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need to do better?

always clear about what it is they want children to learn and why. The impact of this is that the activities staff provide for children are not always focused or challenging enough for them. Children lose interest and focus as a result. n Staff understand the importance of children's transitions in their personal, social and emotional development. There are strategies in place to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff are experienced in working closely with parents and the designated special educational needs coordinator to ensure that children receive timely interventions when necessary. n Staff want children to develop the physical skills they need to control their movements and develop physically. They give children plenty of opportunities to be active in the outdoor play area with resources that encourage them to play physically, including balls and hoops.

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need to do better?

n Parents comment that their children are happy at the setting and that they have opportunities to contribute to their children's ongoing learning and development. This helps to support the continuity of children's care and education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Suitable safeguarding policies and procedures are in place. The manager ensures that staff improve their safeguarding knowledge and understanding through regular training. Staff are knowledgeable about the procedures to follow if an allegation is made against a member of staff. In addition, they are aware of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child. They understand the role of the local authority designated officer. Previous actions to improve risk assessment and accident recording procedures have been met.

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Due date

ensure that there is a named deputy manager in place to take charge in the absence of the manager 24/05/2022

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Due date

provide practitioners with the training, coaching and support they need to improve the quality of their teaching and help them to develop a better understanding of the areas of learning they teach 24/05/2022

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Due date

improve arrangements to engage quieter children in discussions and activities so that they benefit from the same good- quality interactions as the more confident children. 24/05/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY381624 Local authority Hillingdon Inspection number 10230780 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 22

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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 15 November 2021

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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 levels 2 to 5. The setting offers funded education for children aged three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector conducted a joint observation of a planned activity. n The inspector spoke to the staff about their role and responsibilities. n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager and discussed the curriculum for all children. n A range of documents were viewed by the inspector, including safeguarding policies and procedures. n The inspector took account of the views of parents.

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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

10 May 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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