Brightstars Day Care

Inspection of Brightstars Day Care 97 High Street, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7BS

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 Inadequate

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Although the provider has made some improvements since the last inspection, they have failed to meet all of the welfare requirements notice actions served previously. This has a significant impact on children's welfare and development. Some staff do not have sufficient knowledge of children's development to meet their learning or care needs. Additionally, new staff do not understand how to identify or respond to safeguarding concerns. This undermines children's safety in the case of a concern. Staff do not interact purposefully enough with children to promote their focus on learning. This is because they are constantly needed to attend to incidents of negative behaviour. As a result, children do not benefit from good interactions that encourage them to think or share their ideas so that they are helped to make good progress in their learning.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Generally, staff are kind to children. At times, they are able to engage with children for short periods. For example, they join in drawing activities with toddlers and pre- school children. Staff encourage children to discuss the things they have drawn. However, these activities stop when staff need to manage the behaviour of children who do not find this type of activity stimulating.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

While the provider has begun to develop a curriculum to support children's learning, this is poorly implemented. Staff state that they know that they should speak, read and sing to children to encourage their communication and language skills. However, they do not ensure they do this well enough in practice. Occasionally, staff sing to children while following daily routines and they join in. However, children are not developing the confidence and skill in their spoken language. This includes children who speak English as an additional language.

p.2

need to do better?

n Although the provider, who is also the manager, is undertaking a relevant qualification to fulfil the role of manager, this has not been completed. The provider has still not taken sufficient steps to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. This includes assessing their employment history and their understanding of how to meet children's needs. The provider has recruited some staff with relevant qualifications. However, some new staff have not received induction training to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities. As a result, they do not know the procedures to follow in the event of a concern about a child. n The provider has failed to identify that some staff do not hold relevant paediatric first-aid qualifications. This means that there is not always an appropriately qualified first aider on the premises while children are present. This undermines their safety in the event of a medical emergency.

p.2

need to do better?

22 July 2024 n At times, the quality of staff's interaction with children is poor. Some staff who work with babies do not have the necessary experience of this age group and do not engage with babies to help them develop. Babies do not benefit from effective back-and-forth interactions that help lay firm foundations for their language and cognitive development. Some babies spend time lying down holding plastic blocks with little interaction from adults. Other babies stand at a gate between two rooms and watch as others take part in action rhymes. However, they are not invited to join in. n Staff have identified gaps in some children's learning. However, they do not use this information to provide children with sufficient, carefully planned experiences to help them make the progress of which they are capable. Staff do not effectively bridge the gap in their learning overall. Children do not develop the

p.2

need to do better?

knowledge and skills they need to be ready for school. n The provider does not ensure that staff understand how to implement the curriculum. Children are frequently bored and this leads them to behave in unsafe and disruptive ways towards each other. They have disagreements over toys, and sometimes hit and bite others. Children frequently struggle to gain the attention of staff when they need something, as staff are often occupied, dealing with other children's behaviour. On these occasions, staff sometimes intervene physically in order to protect children. However, they do not keep a record of these events to enable them to accurately inform parents or assess the potential triggers for behaviour and the impact of that behaviour on others. n While there is a named deputy manager to take charge in the manager's absence, the provider has not given them sufficient support and training to manage the nursery effectively. The provider has failed to make sure that staff

p.3

need to do better?

benefit from effective coaching and support. Staff have not had the professional development opportunities to improve the quality of their teaching or their understanding of how children learn. n The key-person system is still not effective, which undermines the ability of staff to settle new children in successfully. Children's needs are not sufficiently understood so staff can support their development, and promote their sense of belonging. There are some systems in place for staff to communicate with parents about their children's daily experience and needs. However, staff do not gather sufficient information at the start to ensure planning is tailored to each child and that it captures their individual learning needs. n Staffing arrangements do not meet children's needs. Staff have not risk assessed the bathroom area to ensure that it is safe for children to use independently. For example, plastic nappy sacks and other potential suffocation hazards are in

p.3

need to do better?

reach of children. At times, staff do not realise that children are in the bathroom on their own.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

Due date

implement a robust recruitment policy to assure the suitability of staff to work with children 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure that the manager holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure staffing arrangements meet children's needs and keep them safe at all times 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

train all key persons to ensure they tailor every child's care to their individual needs 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure that at least one person who has a current paediatric first-aid certificate is on the premises and available at all times when children are present 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

implement effective supervision arrangements to provide support, coaching and training for all staff who have contact with children and families, to ensure that they can meet children's needs 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

implement effective and robust induction procedures to train all staff so that they understand how to meet children's needs, ensure their safety and to offer good quality experiences and interaction that supports children's development 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

22 July 2024 ensure that all staff understand and can follow the safeguarding policy and procedures, in line with the requirements of the local area, to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect and to respond in a timely and appropriate way 07/08/2024

p.4

Due date

ensure that children's behaviour is managed appropriately and safely, and that any incident of physical intervention in children's behaviour, is recorded and communicated to parents as soon as possible 07/08/2024

p.5

Due date

ensure that risk assessment is robust and that it considers any areas of potential hazard, and addresses how such hazards will be removed and/or minimised 07/08/2024

p.5

Due date

ensure that any person left as a named deputy to take charge in the manager's absence, has been given the knowledge they need to meet children's needs. 07/08/2024

p.5

Due date

ensure that all staff can implement a robust programme for children's communication and language development, to underpin children's ability to access all areas of the curriculum 07/08/2024

p.5

Due date

ensure that the curriculum considers the individual needs, interests, and development of each child, and that staff plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all areas of learning and development 07/08/2024

p.5

Due date

22 July 2024 implement effective arrangements for the assessment of children's development, including when children first start, to ensure that staff recognise children's progress and understand their needs, and to plan activities and support their development 07/08/2024

p.5

Due date

ensure that staff working with babies are sufficiently knowledgeable about this age group so they can promote children's development in the three prime areas. 07/08/2024

p.6

Setting details

Unique reference number 2712013 Local authority Bedford Inspection number 10348865 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.7

inspection

Total number of places 13 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Mason, Simangele

p.7

reference number

Telephone number 07763995396 Date of previous inspection 9 April 2024

p.7

Information about this early years setting

Brightstars Day Care registered in 2022 and operates from a property in Kempston, Bedfordshire. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 5.30pm. The nursery employs four members of staff, two of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications.

p.7

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the deputy manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager and the inspector discussed the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector and the deputy manager discussed observations of practice. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to the provider, who is also the manager, on the phone during the inspection about the leadership and management of the nursery.

p.8

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.8

Inspection activities

22 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.8

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.9

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.9

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9