Halo Nursery

Inspection of Halo Nursery 203 Haggerston Road, London E8 4HU

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

The manager has not monitored safeguarding knowledge effectively enough to ensure that all staff recognise potential signs of abuse and know the associated reporting arrangements. There are other breaches of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) requirements, including staff who do not hold an appropriate first-aid qualification being included in ratios. These failings impact on the safety of children.

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The provision is inadequate

The manager can discuss the curriculum priorities for each age group. However, she finds it harder to articulate how the curriculum is sequenced over time to ensure children make progress from their individual starting points. Staff do too much for children and overly direct activities. For example, they hold children's hands during a painting activity to produce identical caterpillar pictures, despite children wanting to paint more freely. This places limitations on children's creativity and enjoyment, and it ultimately hinders their learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff do not communicate with the children, or each other, effectively. This leads to the inconsistent delivery of routines and expectations. Staff give children mixed instructions and do not follow these through. As such, children do not know what is expected of them, and this results in poor behaviour. Staff have no shared strategies for managing behaviour and do not support children well enough to develop essential skills, such as turn taking. The setting feels chaotic, and this impacts on children's emotional well-being and their development across the curriculum areas.

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need to do better?

n The manager has organised safeguarding training for her staff team. However, she has not ensured that staff have fully accessed or understood this training. As such, she has failed to identify or address gaps in safeguarding knowledge. In addition, staff who are included in ratios as qualified members of staff do not hold a paediatric first-aid certificate. These breaches to the EYFS requirements compromise the safety of children. n The manager has developed a setting that is secure and hygienic. There is no outside space, but staff take children to local parks every day to get fresh air and be physically active. The manager has ensured that procedures for assessing and managing risks are secure. For example, on arrival to the park, staff conduct a risk assessment before children can play. n Staff focus too much on routine tasks, such as tidying up, instead of engaging meaningfully with children. For example, as they walk to the park, staff hold

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need to do better?

children's hands but fail to talk to them the entire way. This has an impact on the relationships between staff and children, which are not secure and lack

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need to do better?

2 February 2024 warmth. Staff know who their key children are but are not clear about their next steps of learning. As such, the key-person system is ineffective. n Staff do far too much for children. For instance, older children are supported with feeding and drinking from open cups, despite being fully capable of doing this for themselves. Staff overly direct children during adult-led activities and interrupt or redirect child-led play. As such, staff show limited understanding of the curriculum and how young children learn. n Staff rarely engage in child-led play to model language and new vocabulary. They ask very basic questions, such as what colour an item is, rather than questions that promote thought or conversation. In addition, staff make significant, repeated speech errors. Children do not develop into confident communicators in preparation for their next stage of learning. n Staff do not communicate effectively with each other to deliver consistent

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need to do better?

routines. They do not have high enough expectations of children's behaviour or any shared strategies for managing poor behaviour. They are sometimes unable to get children to follow simple instructions, such as to remain seated during snack time. This fails to prepare children successfully for school. n Staff do not have the skills, training or experience to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively. There is a lack of strategies in place to meet their individual needs. Children with SEND do not make the progress of which they are capable. However, the manager receives support from local authority advisors to help improve their offer for children with SEND and to secure any additional support they may need. n The manager is new to her role and is aware of the weaknesses in the setting. She models good practice to her staff and offers feedback and training to

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need to do better?

improve their practice. However, the lack of a qualified and capable named deputy impacts on the progress she is making. This is a further breach of requirements, as there is nobody who can take charge in the manager's absence. However, the manager is aware of this and is actively seeking the right person to fulfil this role. She is committed to addressing the weaknesses and driving improvement.

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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

2 February 2024 ensure all staff can identify possible signs of abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity and know how to respond in an appropriate way 16/02/2024

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Due date

ensure all staff included in the staff-to- child ratios at level 2 or level 3 obtain a suitable paediatric first-aid qualification 16/02/2024

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Due date

improve the effectiveness of the key- person system to ensure that children's individual needs are met 16/02/2024

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Due date

provide staff with training and professional development opportunities to improve their knowledge of the curriculum and how young children learn 16/02/2024

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Due date

improve staff's interactions with children to develop children's communication and language skills 16/02/2024

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Due date

ensure staff have the knowledge and skills to understand, support and manage children's behaviour in an appropriate way 16/02/2024

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Due date

ensure there are effective strategies in place to meet the needs of children with SEND 16/02/2024

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Due date

ensure there is a named deputy who is capable and qualified to take over in the absence of the manager. 16/02/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2682724 Local authority Hackney Inspection number 10327777 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 28 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Halo Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02038183650 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Halo Nursery registered in 2022. It is located in the London Borough of Hackney. The setting operates each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round. The manager holds a suitable early years qualification at level 6. There are five other members of staff working directly with children, all holding suitable qualifications at level 2 or above. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early years 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 The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. 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

2 February 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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