Tops Day Nurseries - Corfe Mullen

Inspection of Tops Day Nurseries - Corfe Mullen 49 Blandford Road, Corfe Mullen, WIMBORNE, Dorset BH21 3HD

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

Leaders and staff are not vigilant in ensuring children's safety and prioritising their welfare. Children have accidents that staff do not notice. When children become bored, their restless behaviour often goes unnoticed until they become upset and cry. Although children receive comfort from staff, the cause of their distress is frequently unknown. Children are not safe when playing outdoors. They spend prolonged periods being physically active in direct, hot sunlight. While children have sun cream applied, staff do not remind them to take sun safety precautions, such as wearing suitable clothing, spending time in the shade to cool down, and drinking water.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The provider does not ensure that children learn from an ambitious curriculum. Staff do not provide activities or interactions with children that help support their development. For example, staff plan singing time for babies, but as they do not know the song lyrics themselves, they are unable to extend babies' vocabulary. Children initially enjoy exploring the well-resourced indoor environment and a large outdoor area. However, most activities are not challenging for them, so they wander around with limited purposeful interaction. They quickly become bored as they look for things to play with and are often left to entertain themselves with resources and tools that they find.

p.2

need to do better?

n The provider has not ensured that staff can identify and take action to minimise risk. Children's play that becomes unsafe is not considered a risk and is often ignored. For example, children run where there are trip hazards and staff do not remind them to walk. Consequently, children trip and hurt themselves. Staff do not identify the risks to children on hot weather days. They do not remind children to wear sun hats or stay hydrated when spending extended periods in direct sunlight, while often engaging in physical activity. n The provider does not ensure that staff provide effective supervision for children. Children walk around the garden with food in their mouths unseen by staff. This lack of supervision means that staff would not be sufficiently alert should a child begin to choke. Staff often position themselves facing away from children and do not see when children have accidents. While the provider is aware of

p.2

need to do better?

weaknesses in staff deployment, steps to remedy this, such as reminders to staff about how to supervise children, have not had the desired impact and poor staff deployment remains a concern. n The provider does not have an effective curriculum. This is because curriculum planning does not consider what individual children need to learn next. As a result, while some activities interest children, staff do not teach them the skills they need to improve and acquire new knowledge.

p.2

need to do better?

2 July 2024 n Children do not benefit from high-quality interactions. They do not have the opportunities to develop their communication and social skills. While children experience friendly exchanges from staff as they serve food at lunchtime, not enough is being done by staff to support children to develop their conversational skills at other times of the day. As a result, children are not learning how to engage positively with others and this impacts on their personal development. Babies experience some language as they listen to stories, but these are often cut short as those staff reading become distracted by other tasks. n The provider does not have sufficient oversight of the quality of education for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff do not do enough to support these children to ensure that they all make good enough progress. Although they identify that some children have SEND and follow advice

p.2

need to do better?

from external agencies, they do not provide the targeted support children need in a timely manner to close any gaps. n Children are happy and leave their parents with ease. They have a positive relationship with staff. n The provider has ensured that staff can identify child protection issues and know how, and to whom, to report their concerns.

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

take action to implement a rigorous system for risk assessment to ensure hazards are identified and managed effectively and promptly, so that children are not exposed to risks 03/07/2024

p.3

Due date

ensure staff are deployed at all times to meet children's needs and ensure the effective supervision of children to keep them safe. 03/07/2024

p.3

Due date

develop a curriculum that identifies what all children need to learn, and ensure that staff take into account children's individual needs and next steps, so that they can provide targeted activities, support and challenge to each child for them to make the progress of which they are capable 09/09/2024

p.4

Due date

support staff to improve their interactions with children so that children engage in meaningful learning experiences that increase their exploration and engagement 09/09/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure that staff provide targeted support for children with SEND, based on what they need to learn next, to ensure that gaps in their learning close promptly and they catch up with their peers. 09/09/2024

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY459134 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10356401 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 86 Number of children on roll 124 Name of registered person Tops Day Nursery Limited

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01202 603051 Date of previous inspection 10 January 2023

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Tops Day Nurseries - Corfe Mullen registered in 2013 and is one of a chain of privately owned day nurseries. It is situated within the village of Corfe Mullen in Dorset. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. It employs 17 members of staff. Of these, five hold a qualification at level 3, one holds a qualification at level 2, three hold a qualification at level 1 and eight are unqualified.

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors Jonathan Payne Marie Swindells

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspectors viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Leaders joined the inspectors on a learning walk and talked to one of the inspectors about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspectors during the inspection. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to one of the inspectors about how they support children with SEND. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

p.6

Inspection activities

n One of the inspectors carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspectors. n Leaders provided the inspectors with a sample of key documentation on request.

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

2 July 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