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Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)

Thorney Island Nursery

Inspected 24 Feb 2023 · URN 113670

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Summary

Inadequate

Nicole Atkinson

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Group verified

    Thorney Island Nursery Committee

  • Group reference verified

    RP904764

  • Inspection date verified

    24 Feb 2023

  • Inspectors verified

    Nicole Atkinson

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Good

  • Leadership and management verified

    Inadequate

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Inadequate

  • Personal development verified

    Inadequate

  • Previous overall verified

    Inadequate

  • Quality of education verified

    Requires improvement

  • Postcode verified

    PO10 8DH

  • Name on report verified

    Thorney Island Nursery

  • URN verified

    113670

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2022.

  • OverallInadequate
  • Behaviour and attitudesGood
  • Leadership and managementInadequate
  • Personal developmentInadequate
  • Quality of educationRequires improvement

5% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Inadequate (17,905 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

−47Criticalmore positive than 34% of reports of this type graded Inadequate
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

In line with other reports of this type graded Inadequate.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praisepositiveenjoymake good progressconfidenteagerrobusteffectiveindependent
Criticismbreachesweaknessesnot effectiveunacceptablepoorweaknessfailsfailed

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingWhat needs to improveAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings896w−45
  • Safeguarding209w−43
  • What needs to improve22w0

Strengths

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No standout praise found.

Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
8
Words of findings
1,088
about usual (typical 972)
Reading level
Fairly hard
Flesch 54, typical 51
Average sentence
14 words
Next steps
2
typical 1
Hedged sentences
10%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 52%Safeguarding 12%What needs to improve 1%About the inspection 34%

Full report text

Inspection of Thorney Island Nursery Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, Emsworth, Hampshire PO10 8DH

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Poor management of the pre-school by the manager and committee has resulted in significant breaches of the welfare requirements. Ofsted has not been provided with the information required to check the suitability of all committee members. While committee members have little direct contact with the children, they participate in meetings and discussions which contain personal and confidential information. Consequently, children's safety and welfare are not promoted.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Despite these breaches, children enjoy their time at nursery. They show they are familiar with the routines. For example, children know they have to wait their turn for a space at the snack table. Children engage well in their play, choosing from a wide range of activities. For instance, they enjoy being creative with the play dough. This enables children to develop their imagination.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children learn to be independent. They are confident to ask staff for help and are also willing to have a go. For example, children learn to put on their own coats and wellington boots when getting ready to go in the garden. Children's behaviour is generally positive. They learn to share, and staff support them to talk through and resolve any disagreements. Staff teach children to respect the nursery and encourage them to tidy away resources when they have finished with them. However, the quality of children's education is inconsistent. Weaknesses in assessment processes mean that some children may not make the progress they are capable of.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children's safety and welfare are not assured. The manager, who is the nominated individual, continues to show a significant weakness in their knowledge about informing Ofsted of committee members. The manager does not ensure that suitability checks are completed for all committee members. These adults hold essential roles in ensuring staff are suitable and the nursery is run safely. n Weaknesses in induction processes mean that new staff do not have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The manager does not recognise gaps in staff knowledge and experience. For instance, she does not ensure that induction training includes aspects that new staff lack understanding in, such as planning children's next steps. This has an impact on how well some staff support children's learning. n Procedures for staff supervision are not effective. Since the last inspection, the manager has had supervision. However, staff have not. Staff are not all

p.2

need to do better?

adequately supported by the manager. Professional development is varied, and the manager fails to identify meaningful and appropriate targets for all staff to

p.2

need to do better?

24 February 2023 work towards. This has a negative impact on the quality of provision for children. n Staff carry out some assessments to monitor children's development. However, the manager does not ensure that they complete the required progress checks for all two-year-old children. This means that gaps in children's development may not be acted on quickly. This does not ensure that children receive the support that they may need. n Staff talk to children as they play. They introduce words that help children to build a wide vocabulary. Staff are eager to help children to learn and develop their ideas. They ask children lots of questions, however, some staff do not allow children the time to think and respond before they ask another question. This impacts on children's communication and language development. n The manager and staff create a curriculum that meets the needs of most of the children. They are aware of the additional support that some children need, and

p.2

need to do better?

have a particular focus on supporting children's emotions as part of their curriculum. For example, they talk to children every day about how they feel and have a range of resources available to support them, such as story books. This supports children to understand and develop their emotions. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive some targeted support to meet their learning needs. Staff work in partnership with parents and with external agencies to support their progress. However, as the required progress checks are not consistently completed, any gaps in learning may not be identified promptly to ensure all children make good progress. n Staff are positive role models. For instance, they gently remind and encourage the children to share, take turns and use good manners, such as please and thank you. Staff explain to children why some behaviours are unacceptable. For

p.3

need to do better?

example, they talk to children about being kind to their friends and taking turns with the toys. This supports children to develop positive attitudes. n Staff support children to take risks safely. For instance, staff guide children as they work together to build an assault course. They risk assess and help each other as they walk on planks of wood that are leaned against a crate. This supports children to develop physically and encourages children to form friendships with each other. n Staff work closely with parents before children start. For example, parents complete 'All About Me' information regarding their families and provide family photos. Parents stated that the staff share their children's learning and development with them daily and at parents' evening. They value the support and guidance that they receive to help their children, such as support with transitions to school.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

While there are elements of safe recruitment systems in place, the provider has failed to ensure all adults who have direct or indirect contact with children are suitable. Nonetheless, staff complete safeguarding training. The manager and staff

p.3

Safeguarding

24 February 2023 know the signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm or abuse. All staff are aware who the designated safeguarding lead is in the nursery and the child protection procedures to follow. For example, they know how to make a referral about a child's welfare or an allegation against an adult. The nursery is clean and daily risk assessments are conducted.

p.3

Due date

ensure that the nominated individual and all committee members have a full understanding of their role and legal responsibilities 17/03/2023

p.4

Due date

provide new staff with robust induction training to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities 17/03/2023

p.4

Due date

implement regular and effective supervision that provides staff with support, coaching and training 17/03/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure that all suitability checks are completed for committee members before they have access to confidential information and records about staff, children and parents. 17/03/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure progress checks are completed for all children between the ages of two and three years of age. 17/03/2023

p.4

should:

n provide children with enough time to respond to questions to allow them to

p.4

should:

24 February 2023 process their thoughts and ideas.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 113670 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10260484 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.6

Registers

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

p.6

inspection

Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Thorney Island Nursery Committee

p.6

reference number

Telephone number 01243 388879 Date of previous inspection 5 October 2022

p.6

Information about this early years setting

Thorney Island Nursery registered in 2004. It operates from premises on the Baker Barracks site in Thorney Island, Emsworth. The nursery is open Monday to Thursday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, and from 7.30am to 3pm on Friday. It operates for 38 weeks of the year, during term times only. The breakfast club operates Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 9am. The after-school club operates Monday to Thursday, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Both out-of-school clubs run during term time only. The nursery is in receipt of funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are eight members of staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications to at least level 3.

p.6

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

p.7

Inspection activities

suitability of staff and committee members.

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

24 February 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.

p.7

Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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

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