First Chapter Day Nursery

Inspection of First Chapter Day Nursery Toll Bar Cottage, High Lane, Burscough, ORMSKIRK, Lancashire L40 7SN

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 Good

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Several staff have left the employment of the nursery. This has resulted in turbulence and a loss of effectiveness in the work of staff. The provider has failed to ensure there are enough staff to care for the children safely. This weakness, together with a poorly thought out curriculum, means that children do not learn well. The provider does not have effective oversight of the work of the nursery. For example, lunchtimes are poorly organised, resulting in upset children who wait too long to eat.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The provider and manager do not check that staff follow safe sleep guidance for babies. This compromises babies' safety. Due to the loss of key staff, there is no lead practitioner for safeguarding. As a result, staff do not have a designated safeguarding leader to guide and support them. Children do not receive a high quality of care and education. The provider does not ensure that children have daily access to learning outdoors. This has a significant impact on children's physical development. Furthermore, staff do not manage children's behaviour effectively. This is because the provider does not develop staff's ability to support children on how to behave. Despite these weaknesses, staff ensure that children at the nursery enjoy the songs and stories that staff share with them.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children's safety is compromised because the provider and manager do not ensure that staff follow the latest government safety guidance for sleeping children. For instance, staff place babies to sleep on a large teddy bear. This approach is unsafe and compromises babies' safety. n Too few staff are available to meet the needs of children. This is because the provider fails to employ the legally required number of staff for the number of children present. This means that, too often, staff do not attend to babies' needs when they cry for reassurance. Children's learning and development needs are not met. n Staff are gentle and caring towards children. They praise children when they listen carefully to adults. Staff guide children on how to welcome new children on their first day at the nursery. Children learn to make friends and relate well to each other. n The manager and provider do not make certain that staff follow the nursery

p.2

need to do better?

routines for lunchtimes effectively. For example, staff sit children too early for eating time. This results in children becoming fractious and crying as they wait to be fed. n The provider has appointed a new nursery manager but did not, as required, notify Ofsted of this change. Additionally, a member of staff has not been identified as the lead person for safeguarding. This means that the safeguarding

p.2

need to do better?

4 January 2024 of children at the nursery is poorly coordinated. Nevertheless, staff hold adequate knowledge of how to safeguard children. n Children do not receive the required daily access to learning outdoors. Children's physical development needs, such as learning to run, climb and jump, are not met. n Sometimes, staff read stories and sing songs well with the children. However, too often, staff do not understand what knowledge to teach to the children and when. This weakness means that staff do not help children to learn the important information that they need to know. n Staff do not understand what they need to do to improve their practice. This is because they have been given inaccurate feedback by previous leaders about the quality of their work. Consequently, weaknesses in staff's support for children's learning are not identified and resolved. As a result, staff struggle in their work and children do not learn the curriculum well.

p.2

need to do better?

n The manager and provider care about the nursery. They are keen to make improvements to the care and education that children receive. They understand what they need to do and have begun to take steps to address these weaknesses. n The provider ensures that children receive freshly prepared, healthy meals. This helps children to develop positive attitudes towards food. Children's dietary needs are understood by staff. Effective systems are also used by staff to minimise the risk of cross-contamination. n Staff do not understand how to manage children's behaviour effectively. This reflects the nursery's weak curriculum for personal development. Consequently, staff use ineffective ways to support behaviour, such as shouting instructions to children across the rooms. Children do not learn how to behave well. n Staff communicate effectively with parents about their child's needs and experiences at the nursery. As a result, parents are kept informed about their

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

4 January 2024 ensure that staff receive coaching, training and support, including accurate feedback about their work with children, to ensure their practice continually improves 06/02/2024

p.3

Due date

ensure that staff are always deployed to meet the required staff-to-child ratios so the needs of children are met and they are safe at all times 23/01/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure that staff are supported to understand how to manage children's behaviour effectively 23/01/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure that children receive access to outdoor provision on a daily basis so that they become fit and healthy 23/01/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure that babies sleep safely in line with the latest government guidance 23/01/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure there is a practitioner to take the lead on safeguarding and child protection to liaise with the local statutory children's services and to provide staff with support, advice and guidance 23/01/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure the routines for children's mealtimes are organised to meet their needs 23/01/2024

p.4

Due date

improve the quality of care and education and secure a quality workforce 23/01/2024

p.4

Due date

provide a curriculum that meets the needs of all children to support their good progress. 23/01/2024

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY272250 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10326166 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 80 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person 1st Class Nursery Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01704 893 279 Date of previous inspection 5 November 2019

p.5

Information about this early years setting

First Chapter Day Nursery registered in 2004 and is situated in Burscough, Lancashire. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a childcare qualification at level 6, four hold a level 3 qualification and two hold a level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 nursery. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about 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 Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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

4 January 2024 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