Sparkle Lodge Early Years

Inspection of Sparkle Lodge Early Years North End Baptist Church, 195 Powerscourt Road, Portsmouth PO2 7JH

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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

The manager, who has lead responsibility for child protection, does not have effective oversight of staff safeguarding knowledge. She has not ensured that all staff have a secure understanding of relevant child protection procedures. The manager was not able to produce the records needed to confirm staff suitability to work with children. Therefore, children's safety cannot be assured.

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The provision is inadequate

Children's needs are not always fully met. Some children find the initial separation from parents challenging. They find it hard to settle down and engage in meaningful learning. Some staff meet their emotional needs and attempt to settle children with distraction. However, this only lasts for short periods of time, and children have regular episodes of being unsettled, finding the environment difficult.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff do not consistently reinforce appropriate rules and boundaries. For instance, children walk around when eating and climb on tables. Some behaviours go unchallenged. Therefore, children do not fully understand what is expected of them. This results in children becoming disengaged in learning and affects how safe and secure they feel. Despite these weaknesses, most children have positive relationships with staff. They take part in a variety of activities they enjoy, such as listening to stories and circle time.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a clear view of what she wants the children to learn and how she intends for them to move forward in their development. However, this is not implemented well in practice. Some staff do not share the same understanding as the manager. Consequently, children do not benefit from a curriculum that is well sequenced and embedded in practice. This has a direct impact on how well children learn and develop their skills. n The manager has failed to implement effective behaviour management procedures. Staff understanding of behaviour management techniques is inconsistent and ineffective. Therefore, children do not receive good-quality teaching that helps them to understand what is right and what is wrong. n Staff encourage children to join in with creative activities. For example, children explore paint during a small-group activity. They show their joy with facial expressions when they paint their hands and arms. However, opportunities to

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need to do better?

reinforce communication and language skills are missed. Staff fail to extend learning by, for example, engaging in quality interactions and adding new words to the children's vocabulary. Activities are not carefully planned to extend the children's knowledge. This limits children's learning. n Some staff have an appropriate understanding of how to support children effectively to make progress in their learning. However, other staff show a weak

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need to do better?

16 March 2023 understanding of what children already know and can do. Consequently, children do not consistently receive the right teaching to support them to build on the skills they already have and make progress in line with their abilities. n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has good knowledge of how she can support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). She can clearly explain techniques that she uses for children to help them make progress in their learning. However, some staff lack understanding of the strategies that are used to support individual children. Consequently, strategies are not implemented consistently, and children's progress cannot be assured. n The manager does not have robust systems in place to monitor staff's work and training needs effectively. For example, she does not identify and address weaknesses in staff knowledge relating to safeguarding practice. Staff do not

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need to do better?

receive the support they need to perform well and develop their skills, including their teaching skills and understanding of the curriculum. This leaves them feeling unsupported and affects the quality of care the children receive. n Parents speak positively about the nursery. They value the supportive staff team. They are happy with the day-to-day information they receive about their child's care.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Weaknesses in safeguarding mean that children's safety cannot be assured. Some staff have poor safeguarding knowledge. They demonstrate a lack of understanding of the process to follow if an allegation is made against a member of staff. This puts children at potential risk. Although some staff can explain the signs and indicators that a child may be suffering harm, this is not consistent within the team. The manager has failed to implement a robust induction process to ensure staff have fundamental child protection training so they can respond and act swiftly to any concerns.

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Due date

16 March 2023 take action to ensure those who have lead responsibility for safeguarding have effective training and knowledge to implement the child protection policy effectively 31/03/2023

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Due date

ensure staff understand safeguarding processes and can identify and act on possible signs of abuse 31/03/2023

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Due date

have records available to demonstrate robust vetting procedures, in particular Disclosure and Barring Service checks 31/03/2023

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Due date

develop effective and robust recruitment procedures to assess staff's suitability and ensure all adults looking after children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their role 31/03/2023

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Due date

put in place appropriate supervision arrangements for staff who have contact with children and families. 31/03/2023

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Due date

improve staff's knowledge of the curriculum to ensure they have a clear understanding of what they want children to learn and can support them effectively 07/04/2023

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Due date

implement effective behaviour management strategies to ensure children understand rules and boundaries to develop a sense of right and wrong 07/04/2023

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Due date

develop staff's skills in supporting children's communication and language development. 07/04/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2657312 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 10277553 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Jewell, Kara

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reference number

Telephone number 07739102762 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Sparke Lodge Early Years is located in North End, Portsmouth. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 15.15pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.45am to 12.15pm on Friday, term time only. The pre-school is in receipt of early years funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 11 staff who work with the children. Of these, six hold level 3 qualifications, two hold a level 2 and two hold a level 6 qualification.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 provider. n The manager and 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 SENCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

16 March 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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