My Childcare and Me

Inspection of My Childcare and Me 1 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath SE3 0BU

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is inadequate

Weaknesses in the quality of education and safeguarding have an impact on how well children achieve in the nursery. Leaders do not ensure that all staff understand the curriculum intent and how children's learning should be sequenced to help them to build secure knowledge. As a result, not all children are able to make the progress that they are capable of. On some occasions, children appear bored and do not know what to do. For example, some older children lie on the floor with nothing to do. Some babies sit in silence with limited or no interactions from an adult.

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The provision is inadequate

Some staff do not support younger children's communication and language development. For example, staff working with babies fail to recognise that loud background music impacts on children's ability to hear words and maintain focus. Despite these weaknesses, most children feel happy and content in the nursery. Overall, babies appear settled and calm. Generally, they move around the play area with ease, exploring toys and their interests. Toddlers enjoy climbing different play equipment while out in the garden. Some older children maintain positive engagement when discussing Eid celebrations. Children behave well for their age.

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need to do better?

n Leaders do not use self-evaluation systems effectively to identify areas to improve and ensure better outcomes for children. Leaders and staff have not addressed the action and all of the recommendations raised at their last inspection. The provider is in breach of a number of requirements and the quality of the nursery continues to decline. n Leaders and staff do not implement robust risk assessments to assure the safety and well-being of children. They fail to ensure that the premises are secure at all times. Furthermore, leaders and staff do not identify and address possible risks in the learning environment. For instance, staff fail to assess the impact on children's health when they leave antibacterial spray on a windowsill that is easily accessible to young children. Even though a recommendation was raised at the last inspection to improve staff's understanding of risk assessment, this has not been acted on. This means that the provider has a limited capacity to

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need to do better?

improve and children's safety cannot be assured. n The arrangements for the supervision and training of staff are not fully embedded in practice. Some staff working with children are unclear about what the curriculum intent is and how to implement this. Generally, staff can describe the activities on offer, but they are unable to explain why they have planned these. In addition, some staff do not interact effectively with children to help them make better progress in their communication and language skills. For instance, some staff working in the baby room do not talk to children when they

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need to do better?

27 June 2023 are changing their nappies or feeding them. This does not support younger children's emerging language. n There are weaknesses in the key-person arrangements. Some inexperienced staff, who have been assigned key-person responsibilities, do not know how children are progressing and what their next steps in learning are. This means that planned learning experiences do not always match children's developmental needs and build on what they already know. n Despite the weaknesses in the key-person system, staff are caring and have developed positive relationships with children. For example, they give babies appropriate cuddles when they become distressed. This helps to soothe and comfort them. In addition, staff offer regular praise and encouragement throughout the day to help boost children's confidence and self-esteem. Children learn about the behaviour and boundaries that are expected of them, which

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need to do better?

contributes positively to the way they behave. n Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff use an online system and face-to- face communication well to keep parents informed about their children's care and learning. In addition, regular emails keep parents up to date with changes in staffing and other welfare matters.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider does not ensure that all areas of the premises are safe and secure. For example, they fail to take swift action to repair the broken lock on the garden gate. Consequently, children's safety is compromised. Risk assessments lack rigour. Leaders and staff do not ensure that all areas accessible to children are safe and free from hazards. For instance, the toddler's sleeping room is cluttered and is used as a storage area. In addition, staff leave the washing machine plugged in and the cable running across the room, which is a safety issue. Despite these weaknesses, staff know the correct procedures to follow if there are concerns about a child's welfare.

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Due date

ensure that all areas of the premises are secure at all times to guarantee children's safety 18/07/2023

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Due date

27 June 2023 make sure that risk assessment is effective to identify and address anything that a child may come into contact with to help to keep children safe 18/07/2023

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Due date

improve staff's understanding of the curriculum intent and how to implement this effectively to help children build on previously acquired knowledge 04/12/2023

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Due date

address the inconsistencies in staff's interactions with children to better support children's communication and language development, particularly in the baby room 04/12/2023

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Due date

implement an effective key-person system and ensure that staff know how to assess their key children's progress, identify clear next steps and plan effectively to meet their learning needs. 04/12/2023

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should:

n make greater use of self-evaluation to precisely identify areas to improve.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2629656 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 10261220 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 60 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person My Childcare and Me Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02080664990 Date of previous inspection 13 October 2022

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Information about this early years setting

My Childcare and Me registered in 2021 and is situated in Blackheath Village. It is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The setting also runs an after-school provision. A total of 24 staff work directly with children. Of these, 19 staff hold qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery receives funding to provide early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 nursery. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with children and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with some parents, staff and children and took their views into account. n Documents, such as evidence of staff's suitability and paediatric first-aid qualifications, were viewed by the inspector. n The inspector conducted a learning walk with the manager and the owner of the nursery. n A joint observation was conducted by the inspector and the manager of the nursery and discussions were held about children's learning.

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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

27 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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