Childcare on Domestic Premises, Full day care in Blackburn with Darwen

Report for childcare on domestic premises

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety at this nursery is compromised. Staff do not recognise and minimise risks. For example, knives used at mealtimes remain in reach of children all day and they have unsupervised access to nappy bags in the toilets. Staff wear protective clothing, such as aprons and gloves, to serve food at lunchtime. However, they continue to wear the same gloves to support children in the toilets and when they return to serve food. This compromises hygiene levels and poses risk of illness and cross-infection. Despite leaders notifying Ofsted of an accident which occurred at the nursery, they have failed to ensure that measures are in place to prevent this from happening again. For example, furniture is not securely attached to walls, and resources in unlocked cupboards are at risk of falling on children.

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The provision is inadequate

Leaders do not always ensure that staffing levels in the baby room meet the minimum qualification requirements. Leaders have failed to ensure that staff are not left unsupervised with children until their suitability checks have been completed. This puts children at risk of harm.

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The provision is inadequate

Planned activities and resources do not engage children or support them to make progress. For example, toddlers who are learning to throw are not taught how to do so safely with appropriate resources. They wander around throwing bottles and cars. Older children frequently become distracted during activities that are not tailored to meet their needs. Despite this, most children enter the nursery happily and have positive relationships with the staff. Babies are given cuddles and comfort as they wake up after a sleep. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure as they bury their heads into the necks of the nurturing staff. Staff frequently praise children and support them to play alongside their friends. Overall, children respond positively to the routines that are in place and the instructions given to them. Children say that they enjoy coming to the nursery because they like playing outdoors.

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need to do better?

n The quality of teaching is poor and staff do not have a clear understanding of what children need to learn next. Staff are not able to confidently match activities to children's stage of development. This means that children are not always ready for their next stage in learning. n Leaders seek advice from other professionals when they have a concern about a child's development. They develop targeted plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), which are discussed with parents. However, leaders do not do enough to ensure that this information is shared with the child's key person, or to check staff's understanding of children's

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need to do better?

20 June 2022 targets. This means that children who require additional support do not always make the progress that they are capable of. n Staff regularly observe children's learning. However, they do not reflect on what these observations are showing about children's skills and knowledge. Staff do not check children's understanding. They make assumptions about what children need to know next based on inaccurate assessments of their prior learning. This means that staff do not plan experiences that build on what children know and can do. n The progress check at age two is carried out by staff. However, staff do not engage closely enough with parents and other professionals to agree the most useful point to carry out the check. This means that children, particularly those with SEND, do not always get the early support that they need to enable them to make the best possible progress. n Leaders have implemented procedures to evaluate the quality of the nursery.

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need to do better?

This includes specific roles that focus on developing staff knowledge and skills. However, actions to improve staff practice have been ineffective because leaders are not always able to identify weaknesses in teaching. Leaders do not provide feedback that helps staff to understand how they could improve. Weaknesses in the quality of education are not being addressed. n Staff have access to professional development opportunities, including accessing training and pursuing further qualifications. However, the support and training that staff receive does not focus enough on ensuring that staff have a deep understanding of the curriculum and of children's next steps. Staff's knowledge is not developing in the areas most in need of improvement. n Children have opportunities to develop their physical skills. They gain confidence with climbing and balancing as they use the play equipment in the recently developed outdoor area. Babies practise walking over the wooden bridge inside

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need to do better?

and are taught to use cutlery at mealtimes. n Parents say that their children enjoy attending the nursery. They are happy with the service the nursery provides and feel that their children are well cared for. Parents speak positively about the recent changes that have been put in place, particularly the increased communication with parents. Parents are clear about who they would speak to if they had any concerns.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's health and safety are compromised. Staff do not demonstrate that they are able to identify hazards. For example, puddles of water on the floor go unnoticed by staff, posing a risk of children slipping and falling. Hygiene levels are not good enough. For example, paper towels used to clear up water from the floor are placed in the same basket as clean ones used to dry children's hands. The nursery's own policies and risk assessments are ineffective because they are not followed consistently by staff. For example, medicated creams and air freshener sprays are accessible to children. That said, staff do attend regular child protection training. They understand the signs that might lead them to be concerned about a

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Safeguarding

20 June 2022 child's welfare and how to report these concerns.

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Due date

ensure that risk assessments are effective and consistently implemented by all staff to ensure that children are not exposed to risks 18/07/2022

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Due date

improve hygiene routines, particularly around mealtimes, to prevent the spread of infection 18/07/2022

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Due date

ensure that only the staff who have had relevant suitability checks are responsible for children's personal care and left unsupervised with children 18/07/2022

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Due date

deploy staff effectively to meet the minimum qualification requirements to meet the care and learning needs of all children. 18/07/2022

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Due date

ensure that training and coaching provides staff with a deep understanding of the curriculum and what children need to learn next to enable staff to improve the quality of their practice 18/07/2022

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Due date

20 June 2022 improve the accuracy and effectiveness of assessments, including the progress check at age two, to ensure that staff plan quality experiences for children that support them with their individual needs and to make the progress that they are capable of 18/07/2022

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Due date

strengthen the accuracy and effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation systems to identify and address weaknesses and improve outcomes for children. 18/07/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2509130 Local authority Blackburn with Darwen Inspection number 10202025 Type of provision Childcare on domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 72 Number of children on roll 70

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 June 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars registered in 2019. The setting employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 3 and above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday,7.30am until 6pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and religious holidays during Christmas and Eid. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed the staff's interactions with the children and the impact of these on children's learning. n Leaders took the inspector on a learning walk and explained the intentions for children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including checking the suitability of the staff. n Discussions were held with the manager and staff during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The deputy manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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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

20 June 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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