Pitter Patter Playhouse

Inspection of Pitter Patter Playhouse The Exchange, Four Turnings, Feock, Cornwall TR3 6QR

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is compromised because the current manager of the setting, who is also the designated safeguarding lead (DSL), has failed to meet some requirements of the early years foundation stage. For example, the manager has not ensured that staff understand the setting's safeguarding policy. In addition to this, they have not ensured that all staff have received relevant safeguarding training. Despite these concerns, children of all ages are settled, confident and happy at the setting. They are independent and are confident to choose their own play. Children are eager to join in with the exciting activities that staff carefully plan for them. For example, children enjoy counting leaves and sticks outside and have a go at writing the number to match.

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The provision is inadequate

Children enjoy both the indoor and outdoor spaces which provide stimulating resources for all age ranges. They have regular opportunities to choose the activities they enjoy best, learning alongside others. Behaviour is good. The manager sets high expectations for behaviour and has clear rules and expectations that all staff model throughout the day. Staff teach older children to respect younger children, being careful and considerate around them. As a result, younger children are well supported to access the same activities and opportunities in a safe environment. Children develop a love of books, songs and rhymes. They enjoy regular opportunities to join in with songs and familiar stories, and this helps to develop children's speaking and listening skills.

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need to do better?

n Children's safety is at risk because safeguarding practice is not good enough. The DSL has not ensured that all staff know and fully understand the setting's safeguarding policy. This means that some staff are not familiar with the procedures for identifying and reporting safeguarding concerns. The DSL has attended an appropriate child protection training course to enable her to undertake her role. However, she does not fully understand all aspects of safeguarding to ensure she can support, advise and guide staff. Staff have not received suitable training to be able to identify some indicators that a child may be at risk of harm. n Staff plan appropriate activities that they know will interest and challenge children. They have a good understanding of how young children learn and develop and take their interests into consideration. They make regular observations of children and use these to plan realistic and appropriate next

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need to do better?

steps for children's learning. n The manager knows the children's learning needs well. She makes effective use of additional funding to offer children play opportunities that are tailored to their developmental needs. The manager monitors children's progress and takes

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need to do better?

18 October 2022 prompt action to ensure that no child falls behind in their learning. n Staff support children to learn to play together safely. Children are shown how to take turns as they play together on the scooters. Staff encourage children to move safely when using the climbing equipment in the garden. They remind children not to climb indoors, to keep them safe. Children show respect to each other and their toys. n Children develop good mathematical skills. For instance, staff sing number songs and rhymes to help children learn number names. Staff count objects with children as they play to secure their counting skills. Children enjoy counting how many spines their clay hedgehog has and staff encourage them to count out the amount of eyes they need for their hedgehog. n Staff support all children to make good progress. This includes those children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, the

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need to do better?

manager liaises closely with other agencies, such as speech and language therapists. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents speak highly of the kind, caring team and the nurturing feel of the nursery. The staff ensure that parents are well informed about their child's progress. This information provides consistency between nursery and home and supports children's development further. n The manager ensures that children often go on community visits. Children enjoy trips to the local beach, park, library and shops. Children enjoy talking about these events and staff then plan activities based on these experiences to further children's learning. n The manager provides healthy and balanced snacks for children. Staff sit with the children during mealtimes and engage in meaningful conversations. This makes these occasions enjoyable and social. Children also feed themselves from a young age and enjoy trying new foods. Children's independence skills are

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need to do better?

developing well. They put on their own outdoor suits and boots and older children support younger children with this too. n The manager has attended some courses, including how to support children's early language development. This has led to improvements in this area and has ensured staff teach children good communication, language and literacy skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager does not check that all staff have a secure, up-to-date knowledge of all aspects of safeguarding. Some staff are not able to identify the signs that a child may be at risk of harm from all safeguarding matters, including female genital mutilation and extreme behaviours. This compromises children's welfare. Staff are aware of some of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about the conduct of a member of staff. Leaders and staff risk assess the environment to make sure that children are not exposed to hazards.

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Due date

ensure that the DSL sufficiently understands all aspects of their role to enable them to recognise and respond appropriately, and is able to provide appropriate training to staff 07/11/2022

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Due date

ensure that all staff understand the setting's safeguarding policy and have received up-to-date training on all aspects of safeguarding. 07/11/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2602395 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 10251596 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 12 Number of children on roll 9 Name of registered person Pitter Patter Playhouse Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 07596280500 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Pitter Patter Playhouse registered in September 2020. It operates in Feock, which is situated near Truro in Cornwall. It is open from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 8am to 6pm on a Tuesday, all year round, except for public holidays and a two week break at Christmas. There are two staff members who hold a level 4 qualification, and one member of staff holds a level 3 qualification.

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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 and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector took account of parents' views about the provision.

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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

18 October 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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