Little Mischief Makers

Inspection of Little Mischief Makers 5th East Barnet Scout Hut, Osidge Lane, Southgate, London N14 5DU

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety and well-being are compromised due to the continued weaknesses in safeguarding practice. This is the second inspection in the last six months where the provider has failed to take effective action to ensure they are compliant with requirements. Children are not protected from risks in the outdoor area. There are overgrown stinging nettles, broken fencing and rusty poles protruding from an abandoned trailer. Although the provider took action to fence off this area during the inspection, this was only completed following concerns raised about the safety of children.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite safeguarding failures, most children arrive happy to pre-school. They know the routine and enjoy the learning opportunities available to them. The curriculum takes account of their interests. This is because staff ask children about the learning experiences they want to see available. Children are excited to practise their climbing skills and use the slide confidently. They requested to have this resource following a previous session. Older children are making progress in their learning. They confidently engage in phonic singing sessions. They are learning the sounds that letters make and practise these with growing skill.

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The provision is inadequate

Children behave well, and they know how to share and take turns. For example, they know how to use sand timers to make sure that everyone gets a turn with a popular resource. However, some children are not supported to fully engage in the learning experiences. This does not support them in developing positive attitudes towards their learning. Younger children are not fully supported to develop their communication skills. This is because staff leave children with their dummies for long periods of time, which hinders their ability to speak. In addition, staff do not consistently engage in high-quality interactions with children to support their developing language skills.

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need to do better?

n The provider has failed to undertake her own suitability checks to ensure that her staff are suitable. This compromises children's welfare. On occasion, children are not vigilantly supervised to make sure they stay safe. In addition, children's welfare is not assured, as there are no staff caring for them with an appropriate first-aid qualification. n The provider has worked hard to address significant health and safety concerns within the indoor environment. This means children can play in the indoor area in safety and manage their personal hygiene well. However, the provider's lack of robust risk assessment for the outdoor area compromises children's safety. Although the provider knows there are significant risks posed to children, she does not take swift action to remove or minimise these risks.

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need to do better?

12 July 2023 n The provider is passionate to discuss the learning opportunities she provides for children. She is enthusiastic in her teaching practice and engages children's interests. The provider has a secure knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements and expresses her curriculum intentions well. However, the implementation of the curriculum is not always effective for all children. This is because the quality of teaching is not consistent. For some children, the lack of encouragement to engage in learning experiences means they are not developing positive attitudes towards their learning. n The provider is clear about what good teaching practice looks like. She is aware of staff who are less confident. However, she does not ensure that staff have the support or skills they need to consistently deliver high-quality learning experiences. During the inspection, some children are overlooked, while others

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need to do better?

do not receive consistently good interactions to develop their communication. n Overall, children are making sufficient progress. The provider continually assesses children's levels of development and uses this information to plan for their next steps in learning. For example, children are enthusiastic to engage in mark-making experiences. They have enjoyed exploring minibeasts and capture their own versions of these in their drawings. Children are developing effective concentration skills, which supports their move to school. n Children express that they are happy at nursery and enjoy playing with friends. It is evident that they have developed close friendships with one another. They play imaginatively within their role play as they pretend to be doctors and nurses. Children show empathy, saying to their friends, 'It is ok; this medication will make you feel better', as they pretend to give injections and medication in

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need to do better?

their role play. n Children are confident to access their environment and initiate their own play. This supports them to become independent thinkers. For example, young children are excited to explore magnets as they learn how to use these in their play. They know the trains will pull along together if they are attached to the magnetic side. However, staff are not skilled in extending children's learning further when they show interest in exploring how large magnets work. n Parents express that they are happy with the care their children receive. They praise the staff, and the provider in particular, for the warm care and attention offered to their children. They comment that they know their children are progressing as they are learning new things, which they share with them at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There are significant breaches to requirements that impact on the safeguarding of children. The provider's lack of due diligence in initiating her own suitability checks leaves both children and staff at risk. Although staff have a clear knowledge and understanding of what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare, they are not safeguarded should allegations be raised against them. On occasion, children are out of sight and hearing of staff. This is because staff do not consistently have

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Safeguarding

12 July 2023 oversight of where all children are. This does not ensure the safety and welfare of all children. Nevertheless, staff are kind and caring towards the children. When staff are deployed effectively, they ensure that children's care needs are sensitively met.

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Due date

implement robust procedures for safe recruitment, and ensure all staff have had relevant checks to confirm they are suitable to work with children 21/07/2023

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Due date

ensure people whose suitability has not been completed are not left unsupervised with children being cared for 21/07/2023

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Due date

keep records of staff vetting processes that have been completed, including their reference details 21/07/2023

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Due date

ensure that at least one person has a current paediatric first-aid certificate 21/07/2023

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Due date

ensure that children are adequately supervised and always within sight and hearing, to keep them safe 21/07/2023

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Due date

ensure all reasonable steps are taken to ensure children are not exposed to risks, particularly in relation to the outdoor play area. 21/07/2023

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Due date

12 July 2023 improve the implementation of the curriculum to raise the quality of staff interactions to ensure staff are consistently guiding children's development to a good level so that all children make the best possible progress 08/09/2023

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Due date

strengthen teaching further to ensure that all children receive consistent, high- quality interactions to support their developing communication and language skills, particularly younger children. 08/09/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2597693 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10278814 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 40 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Ranger, Sheena

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reference number

Telephone number 07938690735 Date of previous inspection 31 January 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Little Mischief Makers registered in 2020. The nursery is based in East Barnet. The nursery is open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, term time only. There are three staff employed to work with children. Two staff have relevant early years qualifications. This includes the provider, who holds an early years degree.

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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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The provider, who is also the manager of the setting, completed a learning walk with the inspector. The manager talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The provider and inspector carried out joint observations in the outdoor play area to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching. n The inspector spoke with several parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the provider about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed and discussed how the manager assess the suitability of staff.

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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

12 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.

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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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