Aktiva Nurseries, Oakfield

Inspection of Aktiva Nurseries, Oakfield The Dalby Community Building, Siding Road, Broughton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 7AY

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is compromised. The provider has not carried out the required risk assessments to keep children safe. For example, broken tiles on the step into the garden are sharp and could cause injury to children as they step into the garden. Staff deployment is not effective and leaves the youngest children in the sole care of the least-experienced, unqualified staff. At times, poor supervision of children puts them at risk. For example, staff are not aware of the guidance on choking and do not adequately supervise children at mealtimes.

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The provision is inadequate

Overall, children are happy and settled in the nursery. Parents and children are kindly welcomed by the friendly staff team. Children are confident and eagerly engage in a range of activities. They particularly enjoy exploring size and length. For example, they join together multi-link cubes and measure how long they are.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children listen to staff, and their behaviour is generally good. They follow instructions and share resources with their friends. They build positive relationships with their peers and enjoy sharing ideas and games with their friends. Children engage positively with staff and enjoy talking about what they are doing. For example, children seek out their key person to show them the artwork they are making at the craft table. Nearly all children make good progress, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language.

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need to do better?

n Risk assessments are ineffective in the premises and this puts children at risk of harm. For example, there is broken equipment in the garden and staples sticking out of wooden pallets at face height of the children. This could cause injury to the children. n The manager does not effectively deploy staff, leaving inexperienced staff to care for the youngest children. Additionally, she does not ensure that staff deploy themselves to best meet the needs of the youngest children. This impacts on the safety of children and staff's ability to react in the event of an emergency. n Staff do not supervise children adequately, particularly at mealtimes. For example, staff get up from the table to complete unnecessary tasks, leaving groups of young children alone while eating. This places them at risk. Additionally, staff do not follow food guidance on the risks of choking. As such, meals are served with large chunks of meat and this poses a choking hazard.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide good opportunities for children to build on what they know and extend their learning. However, at times, staff do not provide enough challenge for the oldest children. For example, children engage in playing with insert

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need to do better?

23 June 2022 puzzles that do not hold children's attention and promote critical thinking. n Partnerships with parents are very well established and maintained. Parents comment positively on the level of care that their children receive and regular feedback provided on their children's progress. They are able to speak to any member of staff regarding their child and feel assured that children's needs are well met. n Leaders and managers support staff well with regular supervisions to review practice. Staff have opportunities to extend their knowledge with an online training tool that they can access to support their professional development, knowledge and skills. n Staff know the children well and talk confidently about children's progress and next steps in learning. This includes lunch-cover staff who work for short periods of time in the day. For example, staff identify the needs of the children and their

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need to do better?

next steps in learning. They share information and build on the learning that children have engaged in throughout the morning. n Children engage in a variety of activities inside and outside and make choices of where they would like to play. For example, they ride wheeled vehicles and share books with staff. The outdoor space is small and so children enjoy regular walks around the local community and park. Consequently, this supports their physical skills and awareness of the world around them. n The manager works well with other settings and agencies for the benefit of the children. For example, she works with the local school and pre-school, taking children to visit the outdoor space to ensure they are familiar with these environments. This supports positive transitions for children for their next stage in learning.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider fails to ensure that daily and ongoing risk assessments are carried out to ensure the safety of the children within the nursery. Although children's safety is not adequately assured, staff have a secure knowledge of signs and indicators of abuse. They recognise potential risks for children and are able to make appropriate, timely referrals to agencies. For example, staff refer concerns to the designated safeguarding officers and keep informative records of concerns. Staff receive training on safeguarding children and have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from risk of abuse. All staff are aware of the whistle-blowing policy and procedures to follow should they have concerns regarding the conduct of the manager and colleagues.

p.3

Due date

improve risk assessments to ensure the premises are safe for the children 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure appropriate supervision of children at mealtimes and that the food provided is safe 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

review and evaluate staff deployment and communications. 22/07/2022

p.4

should:

n extend further the support for staff working with older children to enhance their understanding of how to provide children with even greater challenge in their learning.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2535490 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10230142 Type of provision Childcare on non-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 51 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Aktiva Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02035518909 Date of previous inspection 8 February 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Aktiva Nurseries, Oakfield registered in 2019. It operates from the Dalby community building located on the Kingsbrook housing development in the Oakfield area of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. It is open from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year. The provider employs 17 members of staff, of whom nine hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 or level 3. The provider is in receipt of funding to provide early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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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 carried out a learning walk with the manager and discussed the curriculum intent. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector considered the view of parents. n Observation of children's play and learning was carried out by the inspector. n The inspector spoke to a number of staff to assess their safeguarding knowledge. n The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the manager.

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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

23 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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