Elm Lane Day Nursery

Inspection of Elm Lane Day Nursery 24 / 26 Church Street, DAGENHAM, Essex RM10 9UR

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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

The procedures in place to keep children safe are ineffective. The provider has not developed robust processes to ensure children's safety, particularly when unvetted adults visit the premises to carry out temporary jobs. Staff do not always promote children's health and hygiene. They do not implement robust hygiene practices to help prevent the spread of infection. The managers and staff do not plan and implement an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of individual children. Children who may have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) roam around aimlessly and staff do not engage them in purposeful learning experiences. Children do not receive effective support to make good progress in the prime areas. Staff do not manage children's behaviour effectively. They do not help children to learn the value of turn-taking when playing with their friends. At times, when children push their friends, staff do not support them well enough to help

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The provision is inadequate

them learn to self-regulate. Staff do not help children to understand the effect that their behaviour has on others. Staff do not effectively help children to learn how to use resources correctly, for instance as children explore equipment such as a bouncy chair.

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need to do better?

n The managers and staff allow external contractors who have not had effective vetting procedures into the setting and allow them to carry out work without supervising them. External contractors have access to environments while children are present. This demonstrates that children's safety is not assured. n Overall, staff care for children. They know how to reassure them when they are upset and children willingly go to staff for comfort. However, staff deployment is poor in the outdoor area. At times, staff are left alone to care for the youngest children and those with SEND. Children do not always receive appropriate supervision to remain safe. This demonstrates that staff do not consistently support the individual needs of the children. n The provider has not put in place an effective policy and procedure for administering medicines to children. Staff members do not know how to implement the provider's medicine policy. This compromises children's health

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need to do better?

and well-being. n Staff do not provide children with strategies to manage their behaviour for themselves. They do not help children to understand how unkind behaviours make their friends feel. Staff do not help children to self-regulate their behaviours and to support their emotional health. n The managers and staff show low ambition for what children with SEND can achieve. The managers rely on parents and other external professionals to lead in supporting children with SEND. Additionally, the managers do not put in place transition arrangements for children's next steps in education. This does not

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need to do better?

1 August 2023 prepare children, particularly those with SEND, for the next stage in their learning. n The managers and staff do not keep accurate records to ensure the safe and effective management of the nursery. Staff do not maintain a daily record of the hours of children's attendance; in the event of an emergency, staff may not be able to safely account for all children. n The provider is in breach of requirements relating to safety. Staff do not consistently clean their hands when they support children with cleaning their noses; staff then proceed to touch other children's faces. Children are not learning the links between good hygiene practices and good health. n The provider does not implement and maintain a written record of complaints which includes the information received and the outcome of the complaint. n Staff do not provide a curriculum that supports children's curiosity, awe and wonder. They do not engage, plan and implement effective learning experiences

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need to do better?

to support children's long-term education. n The managers and staff are aware of children's allergies and individual dietary needs. They provide children with healthy snacks and meals. n Parents comment that their children enjoy their time at the setting. Parents like the healthy snacks and meals that their children receive. Staff build positive relationships with children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider does not ensure that appropriate suitability and oversight arrangements are in place for all adults who work on the premises. Staff do not ensure children are appropriately supervised at all times. This compromises the safety of children. However, staff know the procedures to follow to report any child protection concerns in line with their local safeguarding partnership. They know what to do in the event of an allegation against an adult being made.

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Due date

ensure appropriate suitability and oversight arrangements are in place for all adults, such as external contractors, who work on the premises where childcare takes place 07/09/2023

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Due date

1 August 2023 improve the deployment of staff to make sure that children are appropriately supervised at all times to ensure their safety, especially outdoors 07/09/2023

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Due date

ensure an effective policy and procedure for administrating medication is understood and implemented by staff consistently 07/09/2023

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Due date

improve staff understanding of how to manage children's behaviour, to better support children's understanding and emotional well-being 07/09/2023

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Due date

improve the arrangements in place to support children with SEND 07/09/2023

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Due date

keep a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance 07/09/2023

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Due date

improve hygiene arrangements to ensure you comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation and that children are not exposed to poor hygiene practices 07/09/2023

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Due date

implement and maintain written records for complaints, including the information received and the outcome of the complaint. 07/09/2023

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Due date

plan and implement a clear curriculum to help all children make the best possible progress in their learning. 07/09/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY363213 Local authority Barking and Dagenham Inspection number 10303661 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 35 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Akinnugba, Grace Funke

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reference number

Telephone number 0208984 8184 Date of previous inspection 11 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Elm Lane Day Nursery registered in 2008. The setting employs eight members of childcare staff; six hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 and above. Two staff members are unqualified. The setting operates from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round.

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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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all the areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector viewed the provision with the manager and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation together. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in 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

1 August 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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