Feathers Childcare

Inspection of Feathers Childcare 39-41, High Street, Margate, KENT CT9 1DX

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This provision does not meet requirements

Due to the weaknesses in safeguarding, children's safety is not assured. There are not always suitable staffing arrangements in place to appropriately meet the needs of children. Moreover, staffs' understanding of how to assess ongoing risk is weak. The guidance children receive to support their behaviour is inconsistent. Each member of staff has a different approach and none of them help children to understand what is expected of them. Despite this, children get on well together.

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This provision does not meet requirements

At times, younger children need more support to engage in play, and staff do not always recognise this and respond appropriately. Staff have not set up the environment and resources effectively to help invite children into purposeful play. For example, resources are disorganised and pieces of games are lying across the floor. However, children do take part in activities, such as parachute play. Overall, they listen to instructions. For instance, they smile and laugh with excitement when they are able to create a mushroom shape with the parachute and hide inside. However, staff lack knowledge of how to assess ongoing risk to children and do not remove items from the floor as they encourage children to run during the game.

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need to do better?

n The manager has not made sure that she or staff have all the knowledge they need to fulfil their role to safeguard children. In addition, although she checks staff suitability, she has not ensured that all information to confirm this is available for inspection. However, the manager ensures that staff understand what could impact their ability to work with children. She offers them support through ongoing discussions. n The manager does not take enough action to ensure that children receive suitable meals while in their care. Parents provide packed lunches for the holiday club. However, some children receive unhealthy meals. This is supported by staff, as they provide the same unhealthy meals for children who have forgotten their lunch. n Staff do not assess hazards well enough. For example, bags and lunch boxes lay on the floor and are frequently walked over and not moved. In addition, the manager has not ensured that there are suitable staffing levels throughout the

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need to do better?

day to ensure that the needs of the children are consistently met. At times, there is only one member of staff in the building and there is no named deputy in place. n Support for children's behaviour is inconsistent. Staff lack a coherent understanding of the setting's approach to supporting children's behaviour. Despite this, staff try to manage children's behaviour and help them choose what to do. Children share their ideas for activities. For example, staff supported

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need to do better?

19 August 2022 them to make wigs out of newspaper with a variety of styles, such as curls. n Staff positively interact with children. For example, staff ask children questions to extend conversations. They talk about children's interests, and children share their knowledge on how to care for pets and what they like to do at home. n The environment is not always organised in an inviting manner to support children's play. There are incomplete games, and resources are disorganised. Despite this, children enjoy dressing up and laugh with each as they try on different outfits. With staff support, they explore painting and are offered the opportunity to make a picture to link to the current theme, or create one of their own. n Overall, parents comment that their children enjoy their time at the club, particularly the range of outings they go on. Staff find out suitable information about children's needs before they start, such as allergies and if they have

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need to do better?

special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager, who is the designated safeguarding lead, does not have a clear understanding of the policy or the procedure to follow if she has concerns about children in her care. She understands the signs that show a child may be at risk of harm and that she needs to report it. However, she lacks the understanding of how to share concerns in order to take swift action. A delay in the process could pose a risk to children. As a result of weak knowledge, she has not ensured that staff have a suitable understanding of all aspects of safeguarding. The manager and staff also lack a thorough understanding of how to risk assess the environment to ensure that children remain safe at all times. Despite this, children have not come to harm.

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Due date

ensure the designated lead for safeguarding has a clear understanding of how to implement the safeguarding policy and procedures, including in the event of an allegation against a member of staff, in order to take appropriate action if needed 09/09/2022

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Due date

19 August 2022 ensure that staff have a suitable knowledge of all areas of safeguarding and know the action to take if they have concerns, including external procedures 09/09/2022

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Due date

implement a robust risk assessment that covers all areas of the environment and is understood by staff 09/09/2022

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Due date

ensure there are suitable staffing arrangements in place to support children and the running of the club 09/09/2022

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Due date

have a named deputy in place to take charge in the manager's absence 09/09/2022

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Due date

implement an appropriate healthy eating policy, working in partnership with parents, to ensure that the food children receive is healthy 09/09/2022

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Due date

ensure that all required documents are available for inspection 09/09/2022

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Due date

ensure all staff implement effective behaviour-management strategies to help children learn the rules and boundaries and what is expected of them 09/09/2022

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Due date

take action to ensure staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to support children to engage in activities, including the organisation of the environment. 09/09/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2653232 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10250346 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 Out-of-school day care

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inspection

Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 45

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Name of registered person

Off The Hook Productions And Events Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01843520010 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Feathers Childcare registered in 2021. It is in Margate High street, Kent. The setting operates weekdays, from 3pm to 6pm during term times, and from 8am to 5pm during the school holidays. There are five members of staff, two of whom hold a relevant level 3 childcare qualification.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector talked to staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector viewed documentation, such as a paediatric first-aid certificate.

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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

19 August 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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