Little Explorers Eccles

Inspection of Little Explorers Eccles Brighthouse, Bright Road, Manchester M30 0WG

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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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is compromised because of weaknesses in the leadership and management of the nursery. The provider has not established sufficient oversight to ensure the safe and efficient running of the nursery. There are gaps in the procedures for risk assessment. Additionally, the provider and managers fail to check that staff follow procedures to protect children, such as when babies sleep or when staff complete hygiene practices. These weaknesses put children at risk of harm. Nevertheless, when the manager became aware of these issues, she took prompt and decisive action to prevent problems from reoccurring.

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The provision is inadequate

The curriculum that the manager has designed is weak. She has not identified the key knowledge that staff will teach to the children. The manager has not ensured that staff understand how to provide children with meaningful, challenging learning activities. This leads to staff not being able to keep children engaged. Children's learning is poor.

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The provision is inadequate

Children make friends easily and play happily with staff at the nursery. They eat up all their healthy, home-cooked meals. They enjoy opportunities to be physically active by playing in the large outdoor area.

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need to do better?

n The provider does not ensure that the manager has sufficient time to oversee the quality of the nursery. The manager holds too many different roles, including working directly with children, to be able to run the nursery effectively. The manager is overwhelmed by too many responsibilities, leading to poor oversight of staff practice. n Staff are not deployed effectively. The manager does not ensure that supply staff and new staff know enough about the individual children with whom they are working. This prevents staff from meeting children's needs. Parents say that they are concerned about the lack of familiar faces among the staff their children meet. n The provider and managers have failed to identify some risks and safety hazards to children at the nursery. Due to a lack of vigilance by the manager, some staff leave a safety gate to a changing area open, meaning that children have access to dangerous sprays and plastic bags. These issues risk children's safety.

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need to do better?

n The manager does not provide staff with an ambitious curriculum to teach to the children. She has not identified the essential knowledge that children need to learn or the order in which information will be taught. She has not ensured that staff know and understand the content of the curriculum in each of the areas of learning. This means that children do not learn what they need to know. n The manager does not provide staff with enough guidance to ensure that

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need to do better?

23 May 2023 learning activities for children are well thought out. She does not make sure that staff know how to provide learning activities that build on what children have learned previously. This means that the learning and development needs of babies and other children are not met. n The manager does not check that all staff understand their roles and responsibilities and follow the nursery's hygiene procedures. For example, some staff wipe babies' noses while still wearing the same pair of gloves they have worn while changing soiled nappies. Additionally, the manager does not help staff to understand the importance of cleaning cups and bowls before re-use after children have thrown items to the floor. Babies and children are at risk of cross-infection. n In general, staff are gentle and caring towards children. However, the manager does not ensure that staff manage children's behaviour well. She does not

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need to do better?

ensure that staff support children to learn how their behaviour impacts on others. Therefore, staff do not notice when children hit each other or snatch toys. This leads to children becoming distressed and staff not knowing why. Staff then tell children who have had toys snatched from them that they must wait for a turn. Children do not learn how to control their feelings or develop a sense of fairness. n The manager does not check that staff follow the daily routines that she and the provider have established to help the nursery run smoothly. This leads to staff providing poorly organised lunchtimes for children. For example, two-year olds are left waiting for excessive amounts of time for food. Children become fractious and begin throwing their plates and cups in frustration. n The manager does not always ensure that staff understand the nursery procedures or that training has been effective. For example, some staff do not

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need to do better?

make certain that babies sleep safely in line with latest government safety guidance. Staff are trained in paediatric first aid. However, some staff do not have a secure knowledge and understanding of how to keep babies and children safe from choking. n Parents comment that they do not receive enough information from staff about their child's development. This does not help them to feel reassured that their child is making enough progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider does not ensure that the manager has sufficient oversight of the nursery. This means that the manager does not make certain that staff follow some agreed nursery safety procedures or know what to do in the event of a child choking. The manager's risk assessments do not identify that some children have access to hazardous items. Furthermore, the manager does not always check that staff place babies in safe sleeping positions or that staff act to prevent the spread of infection. This puts children at risk of harm and illness. Nevertheless, the provider and managers make sure that staff understand the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of abuse and/or neglect. The manager makes certain that staff

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Safeguarding

23 May 2023 know the correct procedures to report any concerns they may have about a child's welfare.

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Due date

make sure that risk assessments are robust and identify hazards that compromise children's safety, ensuring that children do not have access to unsafe areas of the nursery 30/05/2023

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Due date

ensure that staff are always deployed so that children are cared for by somebody who knows them well, ensuring the needs of children are met 30/05/2023

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Due date

promote children's good health by ensuring that staff consistently adopt robust cleaning procedures of nappy changing areas and hygiene practices that prevent the spread of infection 30/05/2023

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Due date

ensure that babies sleep safely in line with the latest government guidance 30/05/2023

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Due date

ensure staff understand fully and know how to implement emergency first-aid procedures, including in relation to choking 30/05/2023

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Due date

ensure that staff are able to manage children's behaviour effectively 30/05/2023

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Due date

ensure routines around lunchtimes for children are organised to meet the needs of children 30/05/2023

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Due date

ensure there is an ambitious curriculum that is consistently implemented to provide ambitious challenge for children across all areas of learning. 06/06/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482692 Local authority Salford Inspection number 10291028 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 72 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Explorers Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01617078737 Date of previous inspection 12 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Eccles registered in 2014 and is based in Eccles, Manchester. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold a qualification at level 6, four hold qualifications at level 3 and two at level 2. Three staff members are unqualified. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about the curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke with children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked with staff during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke with the inspector about how they and staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed children's learning of the curriculum, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector looked at a range of documentation provided by the manager and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery.

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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

23 May 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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