Clever Clowns Day Nursery

Inspection of Clever Clowns Day Nursery 283 Hollyhedge Road, Gatley, Cheadle, Cheshire M22 4QR

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

Children in this nursery are not safe. This is due to the ineffective risk assessments, including fire safety arrangements. The provider has failed to ensure that staff have a thorough knowledge and understanding of their role and responsibility in keeping children safe. Consequently, significant hazards and risks to children go unnoticed.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Staff talk over children at times when routines change. Children are often unsettled and become confused by what is happening. This is due to staff not explaining what is taking place now and next. Furthermore, staff often carry out personal care for the youngest of children, who are already upset, without providing any explanation as to what is happening. This causes children further distress. Children often struggle to manage their emotions and to self-regulate. This is due to staff not supporting children to learn how their behaviour affects others.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children are not making the progress they are capable of. Staff do not have high enough expectations of children's learning or behaviour. This is due to a lack of understanding about how young children learn. Children are disengaged and move from one area to another. The curriculum intent is very poor. The environment is incredibly disorganised, cluttered and untidy, with many broken and discarded resources, including old bottle tops with sharp edges in the children's play areas. This poses further risk to children.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The provider expresses that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on both staff well-being and children's learning. There are significant gaps in children's development. The provider has identified this; however, strategies to close these gaps have not been fully introduced.

p.2

need to do better?

n The outdoor area poses significant risks to children's safety. There are safety checklists for staff to carry out before children use the area. However, staff either do not complete these or do so ineffectively. Children play next to a shed that contains broken resources, old prams, broken plastic boxes and cleaning products, such as alcohol gel. Part of the door is missing from the shed. This makes it accessible to children. Furthermore, the outdoor area is filled with rubbish and additional broken resources. There are broken fences, large pipes, old bicycle wheels with the metal frames exposed and a large tractor tyre containing rubbish, further broken resources and old plastic gloves. These are all accessible to children and put children's health at risk. n The provider has failed to make a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the premises. The current arrangements for fire safety and the emergency

p.2

need to do better?

19 October 2022 evacuation procedures are ineffective. In particular, the means of escape from the upstairs of the premises. This poses a significant risk to children, staff and visitors in the event of a fire. n The provider has had a recent change in her personal circumstances which she did not notify Ofsted of as part of her registration. The provider has recently taken on the role of the manager in response to the previous manager leaving. There are considerable weaknesses across the nursery. Staff morale in this nursery is low. The provider has identified some of the weaknesses in the nursery, including the risks to children. However, plans to bring about change are not embedded. n The curriculum lacks any focus and purpose. Staff do not understand the learning and development requirements and what their role and responsibilities are in providing a quality education for all children. They do not plan

p.2

need to do better?

challenging, meaningful or enjoyable experiences for children. Staff facilitate children's play. However, they do not have the skills to support children to build on prior learning. Therefore, children are not ready for their next stage in learning. n Staff do not effectively support children's communication and language. They do not engage in high-quality interactions with children. Staff do not model new language to support children's vocabulary. Consequently, children do not learn how to express or articulate themselves. At times, staff read to children. However, this does not capture children's attention. Staff encourage younger children to play musical instruments while they are reading. This is a distraction for other children. n The key-person system is not effective across the nursery. Children's personal, social and emotional well-being are not met. Unqualified staff, who are not normally based in the under-two's room, are tasked with carrying out personal

p.3

need to do better?

care for babies and young children who are already distressed. Sleeping arrangements for babies are not always suitable. Therefore, at times, babies are unable to settle and become incredibly upset. Fresh drinking water is not accessible to young children. Staff have bottles of water for children. However, they place these on shelves that are too high for children to reach. n Older children are encouraged to develop their independence skills and use the bathroom to attend to their own personal care. However, they are put at risk due to nappy bags, nappy creams, plastic aprons, cleaning sprays and toilet brushes being accessible to children. In addition to this, staff put sharp kitchen scissors and cleaning sprays on a worktop. However, children have access to this using small children's steps and use this area to put their pots in the sink. n Staff put on younger children's coats for them. They do not encourage children

p.3

need to do better?

to have a go. Furthermore, they do not explain to children what they are doing. This causes children to become confused and more distressed. n There is a special educational needs coordinator in place. She is trained and has a good knowledge and understanding of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, other staff have a weak knowledge and understanding of how to meet the individual needs of children with SEND. Therefore, at times, children can become distressed.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.4

Safeguarding

There are several significant risks to children's health and well-being in this nursery. The provider has failed to ensure that staff are carrying out safety checks of the environment before children access it. Consequently, children are exposed to many hazards in their play areas. The current arrangements for fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures are ineffective. Staff are aware of some of the potential signs and symptoms of abuse and how to record and report these to the nursery manager. However, some staff are not aware of the whistle-blowing policy or the roles and responsibilities of other professionals outside of the nursery who are involved in the welfare of children. Therefore, they do not demonstrate an awareness of how to report concerns in a timely manner.

p.4

Due date

take all reasonable steps to ensure that staff and children are not exposed to risks, and implement effective risk assessment procedures to manage hazards 16/11/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that the premises and equipment are organised in a way that meets the needs of children and keeps them safe, including removing broken resources and rubbish immediately 16/11/2022

p.4

Due date

take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others on the premises in the case of fire or any other emergency, and that emergency evacuation procedures are effective in all areas of the nursery 16/11/2022

p.4

Due date

19 October 2022 ensure that all staff understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, and have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues, including the whistle-blowing procedures 16/11/2022

p.4

Due date

demonstrate how staff looking after children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their roles, particularly those working with the youngest of children 16/11/2022

p.5

Due date

demonstrate how the key-person system is effective and that every child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs 16/11/2022

p.5

Due date

demonstrate how children will have access to fresh drinking water at all times 16/11/2022

p.5

Due date

ensure that all staff have appropriate training, skills, knowledge and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, to enable them to offer quality learning and development experiences for all children that continually improves. 16/11/2022

p.5

Due date

implement a curriculum that is challenging and enjoyable for all children, including children with SEND, and enables them to build on what they already know and can do and make the progress they are capable of. 14/12/2022

p.5

Setting details

Unique reference number EY361171 Local authority Stockport Inspection number 10258948 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.6

Registers

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

p.6

inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Makin, Sharon Marie

p.6

reference number

Telephone number 0161 428 5414 Date of previous inspection 18 September 2017

p.6

Information about this early years setting

Clever Clowns Day Nursery registered in 2007. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 4pm, with the exception of bank holidays. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff, including the manager. Five hold relevant childcare qualifications. The nursery offers funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.6

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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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

p.7

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.7

Inspection activities

19 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.

p.7

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.8

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.8

Inspection activities

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

p.8

Inspection activities

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

p.8