Squiggles Pre School

Inspection of Squiggles Pre School Wormley Sports Club, Church Lane, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire EN10 7QF

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 Not applicable

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Staff plan some activities that link to their assessment of children's interests. Children enjoy some of these activities, for example, as they paint an ice-cream truck made from cardboard, and they play with a toy shop. However, staff do not engage with children well enough to drive their development and hold their interests. Children frequently become poorly engaged, wander between resources and activities and show limited involvement in learning. At these times their behaviour deteriorates. While staff try to redirect children and deal with behaviour issues suitably, these persist as children are often poorly occupied. Staff do not commonly understand the aims of the curriculum or how activities they have planned link to children's individual learning needs.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

There is not enough support in place to promote children's personal, social and emotional development. The provider states that there are activities to support children's understanding of rules and boundaries but staff do not present these clearly or consistently and are poorly understood by children. There is a rigid routine in place and at times this disrupts children's learning unnecessarily. Staff do not spontaneously adapt routines to meet children's needs. For example, some children who clearly prefer to learn outside are not able to access the area when they wish to. Also, children who have a particular interest in dough are not permitted to take the dough to different areas of the setting, to extend their play with different adults or resources.

p.2

need to do better?

n There is a broad curriculum in place that links to children's interests. However, the learning intentions for each child are not commonly understood by all staff to ensure children's learning needs are consistently met. There are gaps in the delivery of the curriculum for communication and language. As a result, interventions for children who have a recognised language delay are largely ineffective. Some children are not acquiring the language they need to support them to access future learning as they move to school. Nevertheless, staff are kind and warm towards children in their care and children have access to some things that they enjoy and that link to their interests. For example, staff sing familiar and favourite songs with the children, who join in with the lively singing. n Parents report that they are satisfied with the care their children receive. They know their child's key person and state that they have daily feedback about the

p.2

need to do better?

things that their children have been doing. Staff handover to parents daily and speak to them. However, the leaders and staff do not use the information they gather about children's home lives to meet their needs. For example, staff know that some children do not have enough spoken language but do not make sure their interactions support the development of these children's speaking skills. For

p.2

need to do better?

30 June 2022 example, they do not use things that children like, such as messy play, to prompt conversations or to help children to learn new words. n The provider is clearly knowledgeable about child development in the early years and wishes to provide high-quality practice. She has taken some action to improve outcomes for some children. For example, she has obtained one-to-one support for some children who need this but this is not consistent for all children who require support. She has taken some action to tackle areas of staff underperformance. However, again this is not consistent and she has not identified issues with staff knowledge of safeguarding matters or tackled gaps in the quality of teaching. This means that some children do not make the progress they are capable of. n Relationships with outside professionals are not good enough for all children where staff have concerns about their development. Internal procedures to

p.2

need to do better?

recognise, monitor and manage concerns about children's development are not commonly understood by staff and leaders. Staff make assessments of children's learning but these are not always accurate. Staff are unclear about the steps to take to share concerns about children's development, which means that some children's progress has fallen behind. Where staff have raised concerns about children's development, prompt action has not always been taken by leaders. The provider does not have sufficient oversight of the setting to ensure that all possible action has been taken to obtain appropriate support.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider does not have sufficient oversight of child protection concerns to ensure that action is taken promptly to share information with relevant agencies. While staff are aware of some signs of concern about children's well-being, some concerns have not been shared with the appropriate agencies. Additionally, despite recent training, some staff do not know local reporting routes to share concerns about children's welfare. Staff also have limited knowledge of some areas of potential concern, including signs and symptoms of potential radicalisation or extremist behaviour.

p.3

Due date

30 June 2022 ensure that all staff understand and can implement the child protection policy in line with the requirements of the local safeguarding partnership to recognise and respond to concerns without delay 29/07/2022

p.3

Due date

train all staff to understand signs and symptoms of potential abuse and neglect, including those relating to potential signs of radicalisation 29/07/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that all practitioners have appropriate qualifications, training, skills, knowledge, and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities 29/07/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure staff take effective action if a child's progress in any prime area gives cause for concern, to support the child, including where a child may have a special educational need and/or disability which requires specialist support from other agencies as appropriate 29/07/2022

p.4

Due date

train all staff to ensure that they promote children's positive behaviour and manage children's behaviour in consistent ways 29/07/2022

p.4

Due date

train all staff to support children's communication and language development and personal, social and emotional development effectively; this includes obtaining appropriate support for children where there is concern about their development 29/07/2022

p.4

Due date

improve the monitoring of assessments carried out by practitioners, to ensure that assessment of children's development is accurate and that interventions are timely. 29/07/2022

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2555595 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10221628 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Squiggles Day Nursery(wormley) Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07885 426220 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Squiggles Pre School registered in 2019. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one who has a qualification at level 6. The pre-school opens from 9am until 3pm, Monday to Friday, term time only. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

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 The inspector viewed all areas of the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The provider led the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about what they want children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector 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 of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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