Nicoll Road Nursery School

Inspection of Nicoll Road Nursery School Nicoll Road Nursery School, 40 Nicoll Road, LONDON NW10 9AB

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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 provider does not meet all safeguarding and welfare requirements. This compromises children's welfare and well-being. Staff do not plan a coherent and sequenced curriculum. Staff are poorly deployed and do not always know how to support children to practise essential skills, such as sharing and taking turns. In toddler and pre-school rooms, transitions between routines are poorly managed. This results in a chaotic atmosphere, with children waiting around and not engaged in any purposeful activity.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff do not always communicate with each other or with children to help them learn what is right and wrong. As a result, some children begin to show undesirable behaviour that is not safe for others. Other children become disruptive, do not concentrate and do not engage in purposeful play experiences and opportunities. This means children do not develop positive attitudes to help them prepare for their next stage in learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff plan for children to access outdoor play. Children like playing with their friends on the play apparatus. This helps children to develop their social skills in becoming aware of others and making connections. Children practise taking their shoes off after outdoor play and learn to wash their hands as part of their daily routines. This contributes to developing their self-help skills and awareness of hygiene practices.

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need to do better?

n There has been significant decline in the quality of provision since the last inspection. There has been a number of failures to meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage. This compromises children's welfare, well-being, and developmental progress. n The provider has links with the local authority for an external oversight to help reflect on the nursery provision. However, the provider does not place enough emphasis on staff's coaching and development, to help them plan and implement the curriculum and work effectively to keep children safe. n The key-person system is ineffective. In the baby room, staff emphasis is to follow a staff rota to change babies' nappies. This system does not support babies to build and form secure relationships with their key person during this important part of their care and well-being. n The provider does not ensure that staff are deployed to support children's

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need to do better?

engagement in their chosen play and activities effectively. At times, one staff member is left with large groups of children, while another is with just a few. Staff do not communicate effectively with each other to ensure that all children are engaged in purposeful play. This impedes children's attitude to maintaining concentration and persevering in what they are doing.

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need to do better?

9 November 2023 n Children benefit from freshly cooked meals and fresh fruit to contribute to their health. However, staff do not pay enough attention to preventing cross- contamination by, for example, ensuring that children do not pick fruit off a plate that is passed around them. Some children have already put their hands in their mouths and then touch pieces of fruit, which other children then pick up. This practice does not support children's well-being. n The provider does not ensure there is suitable sterilisation equipment for the preparation of babies' milk bottles and food in line with NHS safety guidelines. This compromises babies' health and well-being. n Staff do not accurately report by, for example, checking with parents first, how any injuries are sustained by children. Records of how child injuries have been sustained are not always accurate. This compromises children's welfare and safety.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not possess the knowledge and understanding about appropriate latest government guidance for safe sleep for babies. Staff are not aware of the risks involved of using pillows and loose blankets around sleeping babies. This compromises children's health and safety. n The programme to support children's communication and language is weak. Children do not always hear staff use the correct pronunciation of words and sentence construction. This inhibits children's ability to learn to speak correctly. n Staff in the toddler and pre-school areas do not help to develop toddlers' and pre-school children's speaking skills appropriately, including children who speak English as an additional language (EAL). For example, staff in the toddler room leave few chances for children to engage in two-way conversation. Staff speak at the children, rather than to them. In the pre-school room, staff ask closed questions during activities and miss opportunities to extend children's language

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need to do better?

skills. n Parents report that they receive information in a variety of ways, including daily feedback, communication books, parental conferences, and newsletters. They hold staff in good regard and say their children are happy to attend.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Some staff are unaware of the signs to consider to help identify concerns about children. Other staff are aware but do not know the local safeguarding reporting procedures to follow. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) is not secure in her understanding of the correct reporting procedures to follow should there be concerns raised about adults working with children. This compromises children's welfare and safety should concerns arise. Staff do not follow adequate accident/injury procedures sufficiently to ensure that children are safe. Nevertheless, vetting processes are appropriately completed to ensure staff's suitability to work with children.

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Due date

ensure all those caring for children gain a secure knowledge of child protection issues, including the correct procedures to follow for when allegations are made against those working with children. These procedures must be in line with the local safeguarding partners guidance 22/12/2023

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Due date

make sure the DSL and staff gain a secure knowledge about the appropriate safeguarding reporting procedures to follow, including when there is an allegation against adults working with children 22/12/2023

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Due date

help staff to improve the curriculum planning and delivery, to support children to regulate their behaviour and to support their communication and language, including for children who speak EAL 22/12/2023

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Due date

implement the key-person system to help children form and build relationships during key routines 22/12/2023

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Due date

improve arrangements for staff deployment to ensure that children are supported effectively in their learning and development 22/12/2023

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Due date

improve hygiene measures around how children access their snacks, to prevent cross-contamination 22/12/2023

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Due date

ensure there is suitable sterilisation equipment for preparation of milk bottles and food for babies, in line with NHS safety guidance 22/12/2023

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Due date

9 November 2023 ensure that staff are vigilant about children's injuries and obtain accurate information about what has happened to help assess, monitor and keep children safe 22/12/2023

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Due date

ensure staff understand and implement the latest government guidance for safe sleep for babies 22/12/2023

p.5

Due date

ensure children's communication and language skills are promoted in all areas of learning. 22/12/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY439971 Local authority Brent Inspection number 10301120 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person SAI Children Centre Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02089616648 Date of previous inspection 11 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Nicoll Road Nursery School registered in 1992. The nursery is open each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, throughout the year. The provider employs 14 staff, including two catering staff. There are nine staff who hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 to 4, including a foundation degree in early years, and one staff member holds early years professional status. The remaining staff are unqualified. The provider receives funding for the provision of free 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out multiple joint observations of group activities, routines and staff practice with the manager. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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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

9 November 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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