Claire Bears

Inspection of Claire Bears 1a Sidney Square, London E1 2EY

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children do not show they feel safe and secure at the nursery. Their safety is significantly compromised. This is because managers and staff do not take all the reasonable steps to minimise risks for children in the nursery to ensure that they are always safe. For example, children receive mixed messages from staff about behavioural expectations. Some staff are gentle in their approach towards children, while others are loud and abrupt. As a result, children's behaviour is poor, which puts children's safety at risk. Children snatch and throw toys at each other. Some children constantly run around the toddler room and do not listen to adult instructions. This adversely affects children's well-being and does not foster secure attachments.

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The provision is inadequate

Managers and staff have a weak understanding of the learning and development requirements. They do not know what children can do or what they need to learn next, so the quality of the activities is poor and limited. Staff do plan some activities for children. However, children become bored and disruptive and move from one activity to the next, as their learning needs are not being met. This is because some activities are too challenging, so children quickly lose interest, and other children are not challenged adequately. Despite the weaknesses in practice, children enjoy accessing independently resources inside, such as water, play dough sand and paint. Staff also show some awareness of how to promote children's language and communication. For example, during a story session, they ask children questions and talk about the animals in the story.

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need to do better?

n On the day of the inspection, the manager and staff were unable to identify the number of children present, which highlights a safeguarding concern. They fail to meet the requirements for maintaining accurate records of all children's attendance. Furthermore, managers fail to obtain and hold the required information about children and families attending the nursery. This is a serious risk to children's emotional well-being and their welfare. n Managers and staff's understanding of how to assess children's stages of development is limited and weak. For instance, when children first start, parents are not asked to provide information about their children's starting points. As a result, staff do not know children's capabilities or what each child can do. This prevents staff from planning age-appropriate, challenging activities for children's learning needs. n Staff do not engage regularly enough with parents about their child's learning

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need to do better?

and development, or encourage them to support their child's learning further at home. Some parents say they are unaware of their child's key person, and they do not know what their children are learning next.

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need to do better?

19 January 2023 n Children's welfare needs are not adequately met at all times. For instance, mealtimes in the toddler room are chaotic and disruptive. Children play with their china plates, banging them on the table, and this results in a plate smashing in pieces to the floor. Children get up before they finish their meal and wander off in the nursery. n Staff do not model good behaviours or attitudes. For instance, some staff constantly raise their voices and shout at children from across the nursery. In addition, while children are watching, staff put resources away by throwing them across the room from a distance. Another example is when some staff walk around the nursery holding their plate of food and eating, while children are repeatedly told to sit down and finish their meals. n Children's ideas and interests are not extended or celebrated. For example, when children choose to print with a toy car instead of paint, staff redirect them

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need to do better?

to another activity. Children are told by staff, 'You are making a mess.' This hinders children's learning and confidence, and results in poor outcomes for children. n Weaknesses in leadership and management significantly compromise children's safety and well-being. An example of this is during a sensory-play activity. Babies pick up food off the floor and eat it. This puts babies at risk of infection and does not support their early developing understanding of the importance of good hygiene. n Overall, children's personal care needs are being met. Children turn to staff, for example, when they need to use the toilet or need help finding a toy. Staff comfort young children and babies when they become unsettled. This helps younger children and babies to build on their emotional well-being. n Children learn some self-care skills and develop an understanding of healthy lifestyles. For example, they visit local parks, the library and the local farm.

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need to do better?

n Systems for monitoring staff practice are inconsistent and inadequate. Managers do not have enough knowledge to accurately identify strengths and weaknesses in staff practice. However, the nursery manager, who is also the owner of the nursery, recognises that practice needs to improve significantly. She knows that she lacks the knowledge and skills to put matters right without close monitoring and support.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider fails to safeguard children because of the identified weaknesses in leadership and management. Children do not benefit from an environment that supports their safety, health and well-being. Staff mean well yet allow children to walk around barefoot in the nursery when there are small shards from a broken plate on the floor that have not been swept up properly. Even when this risk is discussed with the staff and the nursery manager, supervision remains poor and children continue to misbehave and walk about barefoot. Staff have a basic understanding of child protection procedures, gained through attending training. This helps them to recognise when a child may be suffering harm and understand

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Safeguarding

19 January 2023 their role and responsibility to act on this.

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Due date

take all reasonable steps to risk assess the premises and equipment to ensure that children are not exposed to risks and hazards 17/02/2023

p.4

Due date

maintain an accurate record of all children's attendance, including their times of arrival and departure 17/02/2023

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Due date

record information for each child in its care: full name; date of birth; name and address of every parent; child's medical information; and emergency contact details for parents 17/02/2023

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Due date

develop staff understanding of how to manage young children's behaviour appropriately. Use timely and positive approaches to support children to understand expectations for behaviour 17/02/2023

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Due date

engage with parents regularly, so they are aware of their child's key person and the progress their child is making in their learning and development 17/02/2023

p.4

Due date

establish an effective procedure for evaluating the effectiveness of staff's teaching skills and identifying and targeting professional development needs. 17/02/2023

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Due date

19 January 2023 plan challenging activities for each child to help them make good progress in their learning and development 17/02/2023

p.4

Due date

regularly observe children to understand their level of achievement, their interests and their preferred way of learning. 17/02/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2647635 Local authority Tower Hamlets Inspection number 10266253 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 57 Name of registered person Claire Bears LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 07463956589 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Claire Bears registered in 2021. The nursery is based in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The nursery manager and the inspector completed a learning walk of the nursery and discussed the setting's aims. n The inspector observed activities and interactions between the staff and the children and reviewed the impact on the children. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed a routine planned activity and then evaluated this together with the nursery manager. n The inspector held discussions with the managers and reviewed some relevant documentation together, including evidence of suitability and children's records. n The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times

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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 January 2023 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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