Dinosaurs Playgroup

Inspection of Dinosaurs Playgroup Campsbourne Play Centre, Newland Road, Hornsey N8 7SL

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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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

Weaknesses in the overall quality of the provision impact on children's safety and well-being. Staff do not take effective measures to ensure that children are safe at all times. Current procedures for risk assessments are not effective. Staff do not identify all potential hazards and eliminate them to maintain children's safety. Hazards, such as broken glass and broken equipment accessible to children in the outdoor area, were not identified during their morning checks. Children were able to access these areas, which put them at risk of harm. The provider does not make sure that essential qualifications, such as paediatric first-aid certificates, are kept up to date. This does not ensure children's safety in the event of an injury.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff working with children do not implement the curriculum effectively. The quality of teaching is poor. Some activities lack purpose because staff do not know what they want children to learn. Children have limited opportunities to explore and develop their imagination. They are told what they are doing by staff and have their hands guided as they paint. Children's learning is hindered by the lack of appropriate questioning for their stages of learning and understanding.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite these failings, children enter the playgroup happy and enjoy playing with their friends.

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need to do better?

n The provider was unable to provide any credible evidence that she had notified Ofsted of changes to the committee that has oversight of the playgroup. This a breach of statutory requirements. n Monitoring of the quality of the playgroup is weak. The provider, who is also the manager, recognises that standards have dropped. However, she has failed to recognise the breaches in requirements of the Early Years Register and compulsory part of the Childcare Register. This is a significant cause for concern. n While the provider ensures that newly appointed staff are suitable to work with children, she does not ensure that staff's ongoing suitability is monitored. This does not keep children safe from harm. n Staff are unclear about the procedures to follow should they have concerns for children's welfare or in the event of an allegation against a member of staff. This puts children at risk. n The provider has not ensured that in her absence the named deputy has the

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need to do better?

necessary skills and knowledge to deputise. This compromises children's safety and well-being. n The current arrangements for monitoring staff's teaching and practice are not effective. Staff have limited opportunities to complete training to support their individual needs and professional development. This has a negative impact on

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need to do better?

29 September 2022 staff's teaching skills and the quality of education for children. Staff well-being is not supported well enough. n At the time of the inspection not all records were available, including qualifications of staff, to demonstrate that qualification requirements are met. n Children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Staff prepare snacks and a hot lunch for children. However, staff preparing food have not had the appropriate food hygiene training. They display weak knowledge of food safety practice, particularly in relation to children's dietary and allergy requirements. n The provider and staff do not support and teach children sufficiently well. Activities are overly ambitious for the children taking part, and they are not able to learn from them. For example, staff ask children to count and sound out letter names, when children have limited speech or skills in this area. This sets

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need to do better?

children up to fail and hinders their personal, social and emotional development. n Overall, staff welcome children warmly at nursery. They are kind and develop positive relationships with children. Children hear polite words, such as please and thank you. Generally, children behave appropriately for their age. n Parents are complimentary about the playgroup. They feel well informed about their child's progress and like the staff's warmth towards the children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety cannot be guaranteed because the provider and staff are not vigilant enough. For example, the fire alarm and fire-fighting equipment are overdue for servicing, and there are trailing wires in the outdoor area that present a strangulation risk to children. The provider does not refresh their knowledge of safeguarding or demonstrate the ability to guide staff effectively on safeguarding matters. For example, she has not ensured that staff have up-to-date knowledge of the 'Prevent' duty guidance for England and Wales. She has not recognised that the safeguarding policy does not comply with local safeguarding partner's procedures.

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Due date

29 September 2022 implement a robust and ongoing risk assessment process so that any risks to children are identified and removed swiftly 13/10/2022

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Due date

ensure there is a member of staff with a current and relevant paediatric first-aid qualification on site at all times while children are present 13/10/2022

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Due date

develop a clear understanding of the responsibility to inform Ofsted, in a timely manner, of notifiable changes, including changes to the members of the committee 13/10/2022

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Due date

monitor the quality of the playgroup more closely to determine any breaches in the Early Years Register or Childcare Register, and ensure these are swiftly addressed 13/10/2022

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Due date

monitor staff's ongoing suitability to ensure that they continue to be suitable to work with children 13/10/2022

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Due date

ensure staff have clear knowledge about how to raise concerns for a child's welfare, allegations against another staff member and appropriate understanding of the government's statutory 'Prevent' duty guidance for England and Wales 13/10/2022

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Due date

ensure there is a named deputy who has the required skills and knowledge and is capable of taking charge in the manager's absence 13/10/2022

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Due date

ensure that supervision and professional development opportunities for staff are effective, to ensure staff deliver quality development and learning experiences for all children 13/10/2022

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Due date

ensure that all required records are available, including staff qualifications 13/10/2022

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Due date

29 September 2022 ensure that all staff preparing and handling food have received the appropriate training in food hygiene to be clear on food safety requirements, including how to meet children's dietary and allergy needs effectively. 13/10/2022

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Due date

improve the quality of education and ensure that all staff have a good knowledge of the early years foundation stage, understand how to plan activities to meet each child's learning needs, and know how to engage children in purposeful, age-appropriate interactions to help them make good progress in all areas of learning. 13/10/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 140414 Local authority Haringey Inspection number 10234211 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 8 Name of registered person Dinosaurs Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 020 8341 9008 Date of previous inspection 14 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Dinosaurs Playgroup is run by a committee and registered in 1999. It operates from the Campsbourne Play Centre, in the London Borough of Haringey. The playgroup receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are three members of staff, of whom two hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3.

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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 setting. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector held discussions with staff and parents and took their views into account. n The inspector held discussions with the manager about nursery policies and procedures. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector observed activities and assessed the impact of these on children's learning and their progress. n A range of relevant documents were viewed by the inspector, including

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Inspection activities

suitability checks for adults working with children.

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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

29 September 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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