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 Inadequate

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The provision is inadequate

Leadership and management is weak. Staff do not support children who need extra help to communicate or interact with others effectively. Some children, including those who are less confident or who speak English as an additional language, are overlooked. Staff's lack of interaction with some children results in them being disengaged from quality learning experiences. Children who already have identified delays in their language development are not supported adequately to catch up with their peers. They do not develop the communication skills they need in preparation for school or the next stage of their learning. In addition, staff do not recognise or remove potential hazards. Although most children appear to be happy and secure, staff do not manage risks effectively. Policies to help assure children's welfare are not effective.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff plan some experiences that children enjoy, such as regular local outings to the park or conservatoire. Staff encourage babies to explore the indoor learning environment. This helps the youngest children to gain confidence as they move around. However, the curriculum for the nursery's outdoor area is not well planned. Staff do not consider whether activities and resources are appropriate for the space and numbers of children present. This affects children's ability to safely develop their physical skills.

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need to do better?

n The continued weakness in leadership and management has a significant impact on outcomes for children. The provider does not evaluate the service well enough to address all previously identified concerns. There are persistent and repeated breaches in legal requirements. This demonstrates the provider's limited capacity to improve and develop the service. n Since the last inspection, the provider has worked with staff and local advisers to implement some parts of the nursery's action plan. Staff have completed training to improve their understanding of child development, and to raise the level of interactions with babies and children. However, the provider does not check that training and support for staff are effective and help to improve outcomes for all children. n Staff fail to recognise when children, including those with an identified gap in their learning, need support to interact and communicate with others. Some

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need to do better?

children identified by staff as less-confident speakers stay in a playhouse during outdoor play. They have very little interaction with staff, who do not play with them or support them to engage with their peers. Staff overlook some children for the duration of the lunchtime period, including when they appear to be tired or unwell. Staff continue to demonstrate inconsistent interactions with children. n The inspector identified several hazards which were brought to the leaders and

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need to do better?

27 November 2023 managers attention. For example, pieces of wood with protruding nails were stored in the stairwell used by staff and children. The provider does not implement policies and procedures that promote children's safety. For example, the risk assessment policy requires staff to prop a kitchen door open. Children pass the kitchen to access the outdoor area. Staff do not identify or remove the hazards inside the kitchen. The provider fails to check that risks are adequately assessed and managed, despite being directed to take action about this at previous inspections. n Staff set appropriate next steps for children, overall. The introduction of 'intention cards' helps staff to reflect on why activities are offered to children, and what children should learn next. However, the curriculum for outdoors is not effective. Some children do not receive adequate teaching from staff during garden play. This does not help children to develop positive attitudes to learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff have made some changes. Resources for babies are more accessible, which allows the youngest children to make choices about what to do. Staff use the new library room for some focused activities. Parents say that communication about staff changes has improved, and they now receive more information to help them to support children's learning at home. n Despite weaknesses in some aspects of the service, children behave well. Staff encourage children's independence. Children self-serve and pour water during mealtimes. They use self-care stations independently, for example, as they wipe noses and dispose of tissues. While some staff provide reassurance to children who may become anxious when around unfamiliar adults, they do not notice when other children are unwell and need more support.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Risks observed during the inspection demonstrate an ongoing weakness in the provider's ability to maintain children's safety. Children have access to a kitchen that contains hazardous items, including a sharp knife and out-of-date medication for staff. Some hazards were removed when concerns were raised by the inspector. However, failures in risk assessment persist. The provider has taken action to address concerns raised about the late collection of children from school. Appropriate contingency arrangements are now in place to ensure adequate staff cover, so that children are collected from school promptly and feel emotionally secure. Staff know how to recognise and respond if they suspect that a child is at risk of abuse or harm.

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Due date

provide appropriate training and support for staff so that they understand how to ensure that all children have consistent opportunities to interact with others, build vocabulary and develop their speaking skills 11/12/2023

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Due date

ensure that an effective risk assessment procedure is implemented that helps staff to identify potential hazards and minimise risks to children. 11/12/2023

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Due date

improve the curriculum for outdoor learning so that planned activities are implemented more effectively and link to children's next steps in learning. 01/01/2024

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should:

n strengthen arrangements to monitor and review the service so that areas for development are accurately identified and addressed.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2629656 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 10305222 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 58 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person My Childcare and Me Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02080664990 Date of previous inspection 27 June 2023

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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 20 staff work directly with children. Of these, 12 staff hold qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery receives funding to provide early education for children aged three 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 provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector held telephone discussions with parents and considered their experience of using the service. n The inspector met with the nominated individual, manager and deputy manager, and discussed the leadership and management of the setting. 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 observed the interactions between staff and children.

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Inspection activities

n The deputy manager and inspector jointly observed children's lunchtime and outdoor play. 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

27 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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