Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)
Dot's Tots Day Nursery Limited
Summary
What we read, and from where
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- Inspection date verified
12 Jun 2024
- Inspectors verified
Josephine Afful
- Behaviour and attitudes verified
Requires improvement
- Leadership and management verified
Inadequate
- Overall effectiveness verified
Inadequate
- Personal development verified
Inadequate
- Quality of education verified
Requires improvement
- Postcode verified
SE28 8PF
- Name on report verified
Dot's Tots Day Nursery Limited
- URN verified
2712519
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.
- OverallInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- Personal developmentInadequate
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
5% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Inadequate (17,905 inspections).
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type graded Inadequate.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
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Strengths
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No standout praise found.
Concerns
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- These breaches mean that arrangements for safeguarding are weak and therefore children's safety is compromised. p.2
- However, due to the weaknesses in staff's teaching skills, on some occasions, agreed strategies are not implemented consistently to ensure that these children make the progress that they are capable of. p.2
- However, the lack of effective planning of some activities means that some children easily p.2
- The provider fails to comply with all requirements under the statutory framework of the early years foundation stage (EYFS). p.2
- Weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements mean that children's safety cannot be assured. p.2
Next steps
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What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Communication & language3
“Some older children talk confidently using a wide range of vocabulary.” p.2
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 7
- Words of findings
- 815
- about usual (typical 972)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 48, typical 51
- Average sentence
- 16 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 1
- Hedged sentences
- 21%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection of Dot's Tots Day Nursery Limited 109 Templar Drive, LONDON SE28 8PF
p.1
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 Not applicable
p.1
The provision is inadequate
The provider fails to comply with all requirements under the statutory framework of the early years foundation stage (EYFS). Weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements mean that children's safety cannot be assured.
p.2
The provision is inadequate
Leaders are clear about the skills and knowledge that they want children to acquire before they leave the nursery to some extent. However, they do not ensure that all staff have a good knowledge of the EYFS curriculum in order to plan and support children's learning effectively. Some newly recruited staff have not been inducted fully on what the areas of learning are. As such, they do not know how the learning experiences support children's development.
p.2
The provision is inadequate
Despite these weaknesses, children demonstrate that they feel happy and content in the nursery. Some staff support children's language development well. For example, they comment on what children are doing, pause and give children time to respond. Some older children talk confidently using a wide range of vocabulary.
p.2
The provision is inadequate
Leaders and staff devise support plans to help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the curriculum. However, due to the weaknesses in staff's teaching skills, on some occasions, agreed strategies are not implemented consistently to ensure that these children make the progress that they are capable of.
p.2
The provision is inadequate
Staff have recently enhanced their knowledge and understanding of how to support and manage children's behaviour. They support children to understand the expected behavioural boundaries and children behave well, overall. However, on some occasions, children become disengaged and lose focus as learning experiences are not sufficiently challenging enough.
p.2
need to do better?
n Leaders and staff do not consistently implement the nursery's safeguarding policy and procedures to support children's welfare and well-being. The provider does not have a clear understanding of what their responsibilities are. They failed to inform Ofsted of a significant event which is a requirement under their registration. These breaches mean that arrangements for safeguarding are weak and therefore children's safety is compromised. n Leaders do not have a clear oversight of the teaching and learning. Gaps in some staff's teaching skills and knowledge of the EYFS curriculum have not been addressed. Yet, these staff have been assigned key responsibilities, including monitoring children's development, identifying next steps, and planning for their learning. This means that children's individual learning needs are not always
p.2
need to do better?
12 June 2024 considered, and some activities do not have any specific purpose. n Leaders have recently introduced a new system to share information with parents about what their children are learning. However, not all parents are accessing this information and therefore do not know what exactly children are learning and how they can support them further. Leaders have plans to review the current arrangement to enhance communication with parents and ensure that there is consistency and continuity in children's care and learning. n Staff build secure relationships with children. For example, they respond to children promptly when they become upset and comfort them. Staff remind children of the rules of play and help them to resolve minor disagreements that arise from play. Overall, children are keen to learn through play. However, the lack of effective planning of some activities means that some children easily
p.2
need to do better?
become bored and their engagement is not sustained. n The curriculum intent for physical development is implemented well. Staff support children to develop their fine motor skills through filling and pouring activities. Children enjoy using a spoon to mix mud and water, pretending to make an ice cream. Staff encourage babies to move around and explore different textures. Toddlers enjoy taking age-appropriate risks in their play. With guidance and support from staff, they walk on tyres and take large steps on plastic crates, which helps their balance and coordination. In addition, staff extend on children's understanding of healthy eating through discussions and role play activities. n Staff generally use mealtimes to foster social relations and independence skills. For example, they encourage toddlers who demonstrate that they are capable, to drink from an open cup and independently put their plates away after eating.
p.3
need to do better?
Staff encourage older children to manage their clothing needs, including putting their coats on and off. All children, including those with SEND, make steady progress from their starting points. They acquire some self-care skills in readiness for their next stage of learning, including starting school.
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
12 June 2024 ensure the correct safeguarding procedures are followed if an allegation is made against a staff member 25/06/2024
p.3
Due date
ensure all staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the EYFS curriculum in order to plan effectively to meet children's learning needs. 02/07/2024
p.4
should:
n identify and address inconsistencies in staff's teaching skills to help raise the quality of education to a good level n improve partnership with parents to ensure a consistent approach in meeting children's care and learning needs.
p.4
Setting details
Unique reference number 2712519 Local authority Bexley Inspection number 10353406 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.5
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care
p.5
inspection
Total number of places 73 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Dot's Tots Day Nursery Limited
p.5
reference number
Telephone number 02083119393 Date of previous inspection Not applicable
p.5
Information about this early years setting
Dot's Tots Day Nursery Limited registered in 2022. The Nursery is located in Thamesmead within the London borough of Bexley. The nursery opens from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. There are 10 staff employed to work with children. Of these, five hold a relevant early years qualification between level 2 and 6. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.
p.5
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, the nominated individual and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with 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 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 with the deputy manager. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the
p.6
Inspection activities
suitability of staff working in the nursery.
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
12 June 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
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Inspection activities
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Inspection activities
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Inspection activities
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