Little Angels Pre-School Ltd Swadlincote

Inspection of Little Angels Pre-School Ltd Swadlincote Old Post Centre, High Street, Newhall, SWADLINCOTE, Derbyshire DE11 0HX

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is inadequate

Children do not receive a good enough standard of care and learning. Considerable changes to the staff team, including the recent departure of the pre-school's special educational needs coordinator, has had a detrimental impact on the quality of the provision. On the day of the inspection, there were insufficient numbers of qualified and capable staff, and some whose suitability is yet to be verified, to meet the needs of all children. The provider, who is also the manager, has not considered how to ensure that the needs of children who are aged two years and under are always met. Risk assessments are not effective in identifying potential risks to children's safety.

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The provision is inadequate

The pre-school has an extensive range of toys, resources, and equipment indoors and outside. However, the lack of a coherent and well-structured curriculum means that these are not used effectively to support children's learning. Children, particularly younger children and those who need additional support, spend a high proportion of their time wandering around the environment not engaged in meaningful learning. Engagement from staff is minimal as they often adopt an observational role. That said, at times, some staff provide resources that they know children like to use. For example, children show their excitement as they wait to take part in an art and craft activity. They know to share the resources and enjoy the process of using glue to stick pom-poms and sequins onto paper. They share what they have created with staff, who warmly acknowledge their achievements.

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need to do better?

n All staff, other than the manager, are new to the setting. At the time of the inspection, only the manager and one other member of staff were qualified and able to carry out routine care tasks for children. Other staff required constant direction and could not be left unsupervised with children. As a result, children did not receive a sufficient level of support to ensure that their care and learning needs were consistently met. n The manager is qualified and experienced. She understands that she has responsibilities to support and coach staff, including those who are new and inexperienced, to help them to improve their practice. However, the current supervision arrangements in place are not effective. Staff are not clear about how they can improve their practice. n Since the last inspection, the manager has been open to receiving support from the local authority advisers. She has improved her knowledge and understanding

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need to do better?

of child protection and safeguarding procedures. The manager ensures that new staff familiarise themselves with the pre-school's policies and procedures so that they understand their safeguarding responsibilities. n Children have access to the indoor and outdoor play space. Under direction from

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need to do better?

5 June 2023 the manager, staff position themselves where children are playing. However, not enough consideration is given to the potential risks in the environment. Staff are not always vigilant to what children are doing to ensure their safety. For example, very young children are left to climb large, fixed play equipment, with no safety rails and without supervision. Furthermore, the extensive range of equipment and resources limits the available space and impacts on children's ability to navigate their way around safely without tripping over. n Overall, staff demonstrate care and warmth towards the children, with some knowing children a little better than others. Some staff, at times, interact positively with children as they talk to them while they play and attend appropriately to their daily care routines. However, others have very little knowledge of the children, rarely engage with them, and offer little or no

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need to do better?

support. This means that children are often left to their own devices, observing but not participating in learning and drifting from one thing to the next. n The manager can provide some examples of what it is that she wants children to learn in the setting and how they might achieve this. However, the lack of a clearly planned curriculum means that staff are not sufficiently focused on children's learning. Activities that are provided are not well organised or matched to children's individual needs. Some staff do not have a good enough knowledge of individual children, how they learn, or what it is that they want them to learn. Their interactions with children are not frequent enough or adapted to ensure that all children are able to make the progress that they are capable of. n Parents feed back that they are happy with service that they receive and that their children enjoy their time at the pre-school. They state that regular emails

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need to do better?

and photographs help to keep them informed about their child's time in the setting.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has taken steps to ensure that she and the staff have an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures. They understand their responsibilities to ensure children's welfare and know what steps to take should they have a safeguarding concern. However, risk assessments are not effective in identifying potential hazards and insufficient steps are taken to reduce or minimise risks to children. Some staff require constant direction and are not vigilant enough to children's safety. That said, effective arrangements are in place to prevent any unknown persons from entering or children leaving the premises unsupervised.

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Due date

ensure that there are always sufficient numbers of qualified staff available to work directly with children at all times 26/06/2023

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Due date

ensure that staffing arrangements meet the needs of children at all times; this includes ensuring that all staff under the age of 17 years and those whose suitability is not yet confirmed are supervised at all times 26/06/2023

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Due date

take all reasonable steps to ensure that potential risks are identified, and appropriate action taken to minimise or reduce the risk to children 26/06/2023

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Due date

implement appropriate supervision arrangements in order to support, coach and train staff, particularly new and unqualified staff, to improve their knowledge and understanding, skills and personal effectiveness 26/06/2023

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Due date

implement a coherent and clear curriculum, taking into account the individual needs, interests and development of each child. 14/07/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY363515 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10290419 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 21

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Name of registered person

Little Angels Pre School (Swadlincote) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07725 571 368 Date of previous inspection 10 January 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Little Angels Pre-school Ltd Swadlincote registered in 2007. It is situated in Newhall, Derbyshire. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff who hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 3. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 9am until midday and 12.45pm until 3.45pm, with a lunch club available between these sessions. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It also provides before- and after-school care for school-aged children and a holiday club.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager to discuss 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

5 June 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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