Tiny Tugs Medway Trust Day Nursery

Inspection of Tiny Tugs Medway Trust Day Nursery Windmill Road, GILLINGHAM, Kent ME7 5NY

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

The provider does not ensure children's safety and welfare, due to the significant breaches of safeguarding and welfare requirements. This includes those relating to child protection. The provider has not ensured that staff can identify possible indicators of abuse, or explain the necessary actions to take when there are safeguarding concerns for children. This compromises children's safety and well- being.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children who require additional support and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are overlooked within the setting. The provider does not ensure that they seek support, guidance or funding promptly, to make sure that all children reach their highest potential.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The provider does not ensure that the activities staff provide are tailored to children's individual needs, and they are uninspiring. As a result, children are unfocused and, at times, bored in their play. Staff do not understand how to plan activities to build upon what children already know and need to learn next. Therefore, this limits children's learning opportunities.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

However, staff are nurturing towards children and engage with them. For example, they wait for the children to respond, allowing the children thinking time. They all interact on the child's level. Staff sometimes narrate the children's play and ask some open-ended questions. When children are tired or upset, staff comfort them.

p.2

need to do better?

n The provider has not ensured that the designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) and staff have a secure knowledge of safeguarding procedures and practice. Staff have completed relevant safeguarding training, but they have a poor knowledge of identifying a child protection concern. The provider has failed to make sure that all the staff understand the setting's policy and procedures, to ensure that children are protected from harm. The policy is complex and relates more to the trust governing the setting. In addition, staff do not understand the procedures for managing allegations made against staff. This significantly compromises children's safety and welfare. n The leader's vision for the curriculum is weak. Staff do not plan or sequence activities to build on children's previous learning. The curriculum that the children receive is poorly designed. It is limited and the activities lack purpose. As a result, children are not focused in their play and learning. The activities do

p.2

need to do better?

not meet the children's needs or promote learning. n For children with SEND, the curriculum is narrow and disengaging. Children wander around and repeat activities, without support from staff to engage them.

p.2

need to do better?

30 June 2022 The provider has not ensured that staff support children with SEND. These children are at risk of falling further behind in their learning and development. n Parents speak positively about the nursery and the staff. They feel they are updated regularly with information about their child's learning. For example, they talk about having contact with their child's key person and looking through photos in the learning journals. n Staff promote and follow good hygiene routines at food times. For example, they wear aprons and gloves to serve food and ensure children wash their hands before eating. The children's dietary requirements and allergies are considered and catered for at all mealtimes. n Despite the weaknesses, the provider has made arrangements to prepare children in the pre-school room for starting school. Staff talk to children about school routines and share stories about starting school.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff promote independence and encourage children to do things by themselves. For example, staff ask older children to set the table for lunch. Staff encourage younger children to blow their own noses. n All children, including babies, make use of the outside spaces. The staff equip younger children with waterproof clothing so that they can join in and access these outdoor spaces all year round.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider does not ensure that the DSLs and staff fully understand their responsibilities to keep children safe. For example, staff do not understand the procedures outlined in the setting's policy, as it is overly complex. Staff are unsure who to report concerns to if they are worried about adults working with children. Furthermore, they are not clear about who they can refer concerns to, in line with the setting's policy and local procedures. Although staff complete risk assessments to ensure that areas of the nursery are safe, they are not fully aware of wider safeguarding issues, or issues in the local area. Their poor understanding of safeguarding does not ensure that they are able to identify signs of harm within a child's life.

p.3

Due date

30 June 2022 implement a policy and procedures to safeguard children, which are in line with the local safeguarding partnership 14/07/2022

p.3

Due date

train all staff to understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, to ensure that they have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding 14/07/2022

p.4

Due date

act in a swift and timely manner to access support and make arrangements for children with SEND. 14/07/2022

p.4

Due date

plan challenging and enjoyable experiences for children that engage them in their play and learning, and that reflect the intentions for the curriculum. 28/07/2022

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY266959 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10228339 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 62 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person Medway NHS Foundation Trust

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01634 833758 Date of previous inspection 12 October 2016

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Tiny Tugs Medway Trust Day Nursery opened in 2003. It is situated on the site of Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent. The nursery opens from 7am to 6pm, each weekday, for most of the year. Care is primarily offered for children whose parents are employed at the hospital. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years. The nursery employs 18 members of staff, all of whom hold relevant early years qualifications to level 3. One member of staff holds an early years foundation degree.

p.5

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 provider. n The inspector looked at and discussed documentation in relation to safeguarding. n The deputy manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The deputy manager and the inspector took part in a joint observation. n The inspector asked staff questions about the setting and children, and interacted with children during the inspection. 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. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

30 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7