Norto5 KIDZ Academy - Cuckfield

Inspection of Norto5 KIDZ Academy - Cuckfield The Pavilion, South Street, Haywards Heath RH17 5AB

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Action raised at the last inspection that was linked directly to the curriculum has not been met. Furthermore, other identified breaches from the last inspection feature as concerns again. For example, the deployment of staff and improving supervision arrangements to tailor support for professional development in teaching practice are not robust enough. This means that the provider fails to sustain improvements that are required to remain compliant.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children have an assigned key person. However, the arrangements to meet key children's learning and development needs are ineffective. Children do not receive regular and consistent interactions from their key person and are often cared for by any staff who are within the vicinity. As a result, very young children do not have a well-planned curriculum that precisely meets their individual learning and development needs. Learning that takes place is often incidental and not purposeful. At times, very young children struggle to concentrate and flit between resources, wandering around the nursery disengaged. This is because activities and experiences are not pitched at their age or stage of development. Operation managers who were present for the inspection, noticed this and reacted by quickly setting up activities. However, this is a reaction to a poorly designed curriculum that has not been fully considered in advance. As a result, not all children receive

p.2

The provision is inadequate

experiences that are tailored to what they need to learn to help them make good progress to the highest level.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Despite the weaknesses, most children are happy and settled, and develop good relationships with friends and staff who care for them. Children who are fractious or upset receive support and comfort to help them to feel secure. Children enjoy playing outside, practising their balancing skills on assault courses made by crates and planks of wood. A child calls out 'look I did it', proud of their achievement when they complete the course. They join in with action songs, such as 'Sleeping bunnies'. Children jump and hop, chanting along to the familiar words from the song. This supports developing their language skills. Children enjoy role-play opportunities and pretend to be shop keepers. Staff ask children questions to encourage discussions about their home experiences. This encourages children to listen to one another and helps them to make connections about life beyond the setting.

p.2

need to do better?

n There is ineffective oversight and governance from the nominated individual. They have not monitored leaders and managers closely enough to sustain improvement. Not enough has been done to improve practice. For example, actions previously set to improve the curriculum have not been met. Leaders fail

p.2

need to do better?

6 July 2023 to tackle the ongoing weaknesses and, as a result, the youngest children receive a poorly designed curriculum that continues to be ineffective. This does not prepare children well enough for their next stages of learning. n The planning and implementation of the curriculum continue to be weak. Despite some recent improvement, supervision does not accurately identify gaps in staff's professional development. Consequently, support, coaching and training does not target the quality of teaching to a good level. n Leaders do not monitor children who have delays in their development or possible special educational needs and/or disabilities closely enough. For example, staff use written inclusion support plans to share information about individual children. However, these are not kept up to date. In the absence of a key person, those working with children do not always have access to important information about children's current care plans. This does not provide

p.2

need to do better?

consistency for children who need extra help to catch up. Therefore, these children are not supported to reach their highest potential. n Arrangements to assess and manage risk are not effective. Staff do not recognise weaknesses in the daily routine. For example, safety is not considered well enough when children are sent to wash their hands at lunchtime. A large number of children are sent to the bathroom at the same time. They jostle for space as they try to share the basins. At this time, staff deployment is not effective in ensuring that the children are adequately supervised. Children become agitated as there is not enough room to accommodate them. As a result, there are times when children are exposed to a chaotic routine. n The weaknesses in the curriculum directly impact on children's behaviour. Staff offer support to children by modelling expected behaviours. This includes rules such as 'kind hands' and 'listening ears' when they notice children talking over

p.3

need to do better?

one another and when minor tussles over sharing resources occur. However, staff fail to recognise that the behaviour exhibited by younger children is often due to the experiences and activities not being pitched to their level. This results in children wandering and finding it difficult to remain engaged. n Parents comment that the care arrangements have begun to improve since the new manager started, with concerns raised being addressed more efficiently. However, although parents receive general feedback, they do not receive up-to- date information regarding their children's learning and development.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

At times, staff lack vigilance to ensure that activities that very young children have access to are supervised effectively. For example, staff do not notice when very young children put play resources in their mouth, posing a risk of choking. Staff do not deploy themselves well enough to prevent these occurrences from happening. Despite this, other aspects of safeguarding are in place. For example, leaders conduct vetting checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. They also ensure that staff receive training to recognise when a child is at risk of harm and know how to report concerns in line with local procedures.

p.3

Due date

improve key-person system arrangements to ensure that children receive continuity of care and have their individual learning and development needs met consistently 26/07/2023

p.4

Due date

implement effective arrangements to support, coach and train staff to improve the quality of teaching 26/07/2023

p.4

Due date

ensure that staff understand and consistently meet the individual needs of all children with special educational needs and/or disabilities 26/07/2023

p.4

Due date

review the organisation and supervision of children during activities and daily routines to minimise risk and ensure their safety. 26/07/2023

p.4

Due date

improve parent partnership arrangements to ensure that parents and carers receive regular updates about the progress that their own children are making 26/07/2023

p.4

Due date

implement a well-planned and sequenced curriculum that covers all areas of learning and reflects children's individual learning needs. 31/08/2023

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY490861 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10282134 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 61 Name of registered person Norto5 Limited

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 0845 004 5226 Date of previous inspection 13 February 2023

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Norto5 KIDZ Academy - Cuckfield registered in 2015. It operates from the cricket sports pavilion in Cuckfield, West Sussex. The provider employs six members of staff. The manager holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The setting is open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, all year round, excluding bank holidays.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider 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 inspector went on a learning walk with the manager to establish the priorities for the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and daily routines to assess the impact they have on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times during the inspection. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager. n The inspector tracked children to establish what it is like for a child at the nursery. n The inspector held a discussion with leaders and the manager in relation to the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of suitability

p.6

Inspection activities

and vetting checks, first-aid certificates and staff personnel files.

p.6

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.6

Inspection activities

6 July 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.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

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

p.7