Plume Avenue Nursery

Inspection of Plume Avenue Nursery United Reformed Church, Plume Avenue, COLCHESTER CO3 4PQ

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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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

Weaknesses in the provider's safeguarding procedures and the arrangements regarding children's allergies mean children's well-being and safety are not assured. In addition, the provider does not ensure children are adequately supervised when they are eating.

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The provision is inadequate

The provider does not ensure that children benefit from an ambitious curriculum or that staff have good knowledge and skills to support children in their learning. This limits the opportunities children have to make good progress in their learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff are polite and kind to the children. Children behave appropriately. They listen to staff when they give them gentle reminders about the rules in the setting. Children are polite and play alongside each other, sharing their experiences. They talk to one another about what they are making with the malleable dough. They are keen to talk to visitors and share their thoughts. They invite them into their play and ask them to read stories.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff provide children with daily opportunities for exercise and fresh air. Children develop their gross motor skills by negotiating their bicycles around the garden and climbing the steps of the slide, manoeuvring their bodies when they reach the top. This helps to promote their physical well-being.

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need to do better?

n The designated leads for safeguarding understand what to do if there is a concern raised about a member of staff. However, not all leaders are able to recognise and take the appropriate action when an allegation is made. This compromises children's safety. n The provider has failed to ensure that information about children's dietary needs and allergies is accurately recorded and shared with staff. This means that staff do not have the knowledge to attend to children in the event of an emergency. This does not promote children's good health. n The provider does not ensure that children are adequately supervised while eating. During a food-tasting activity, staff failed to notice that children were running around with pieces of fruit in their mouth. They visually check the contents of children's lunch boxes but fail to take action if items, such as grapes, are not cut to a safe size before children eat them. This lack of supervision and

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need to do better?

awareness affects children's well-being. n Staff know where children are in their learning and have a clear view of what they want children to learn next. However, leaders do not make sure that staff are using this knowledge to create a curriculum that is based on children's abilities and what they are ready to learn next. Therefore, activities are not

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need to do better?

11 January 2024 linked to children's individual needs. This means that learning is incidental rather than purposefully planned to build on children's skills and knowledge over time. This does not help all children to reach their full potential. n Staff are not providing children with interactions that stimulate curiosity, interest, or excitement. Staff provide basic information when children play and ask them simple questions. However, they do not regularly model a wide range of vocabulary or use effective questions to encourage children's critical thinking. This means children do not benefit from good-quality interactions that support their developing communication skills and help move them to their next stage of learning. n The key-person system is well embedded, and each key person spends time talking to parents about their children at the start and end of the session. Parents report that their children are happy to come to the nursery. They feel

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need to do better?

the communication methods in the setting are effective. However, parents are not kept fully informed about their child's progress and next steps in learning. Nor are they given advice on how they can support their child's development and well-being at home. n The provider has embraced support offered by the local authority. They recognise the benefits this has had and have plans in place for further improvements. Staff work in partnership with other professionals, such as health visitors, feeder schools and specialists, which helps to improve outcomes for children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

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

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Due date

ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are understood and followed by leaders, particularly in respect of managing allegations about adults who work with children 02/02/2024

p.3

Due date

11 January 2024 improve arrangements for risk assessment to identify any risks to children's safety and take steps to minimise or remove these, with particular regard to children's allergies and choking risks 02/02/2024

p.3

Due date

ensure all staff receive effective and regular support and coaching to help them implement an ambitious curriculum and improve the quality of their interactions. 02/02/2024

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should:

n develop information sharing with parents so that all parents receive up-to-date information about their child's progress and how they can support their child's development at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 404856 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10321868 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 58 Name of registered person Catley, Jean Patricia

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reference number

Telephone number 01206 579 458 Date of previous inspection 8 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Plume Avenue Nursery registered in 1971. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff, 11 of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification from level 2 to level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 9am until 3.30pm, during school term time, except for Mondays when the nursery closes at 1pm. The nursery provides funded 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 deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual and manager about the leadership and management of the nursery. 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 a joint observation in the outdoor area with the deputy manager. 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

11 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.

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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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