Safari Childcare

Inspection of Safari Childcare Childrens Day Nursery, 79 Halstead Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 9AD

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Inspection date: 13 June 2024 - 27 June 2024

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and their oversight of the provision do not consistently safeguard children. The provider does not ensure that all staff, including those with lead responsibilities, understand and follow correct procedures when concerns are raised about adults. Children are not always effectively supervised to ensure their safety. The setting does not have adequate arrangements in place to make sure that communication with parents is effective, especially when they have concerns about the provision. Despite these weaknesses, children are settled and enjoy their nursery day. They are greeted at the main door or gate by friendly staff who welcome them and give those requiring one a comforting cuddle. Children quickly settle and form small friendship groups. They enjoy their interactions with staff. Older children hold on to the child-height banister for support and know to walk carefully down the stairs. They enjoy developing their physical skills in the garden.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff are on hand to help them to negotiate more challenging tasks, such as walking across tyres and using resources to make new walkways. Babies begin to communicate their needs from a very early age by using signs. They sign to say 'please' and 'thank you'. Staff respond appropriately through sign and verbal praise, helping to build on babies' communication and language skills.

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need to do better?

n Significant evidence received after the inspection revealed that necessary steps to assure children's welfare are not always taken. In addition, the setting does not make sure that it shares all relevant information during the inspection so that Ofsted can evaluate and report fairly and reliably on the provision. n The setting does not make sure the safeguarding policy is effective. It does not ensure that staff implement the procedures in place to protect children's safety and welfare. Staff attend regular safeguarding training so that they know the procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made. However, staff are not able to consistently recognise when a concern is being made about an adult working with children and swiftly act on these concerns. This does not assure children's safety. n Child supervision procedures are not continually effective. As a result, children are not always in sight and hearing during transition times, such as moving from

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need to do better?

inside to the garden. Action has been taken previously by the setting on two occasions to address the same breach. Subsequently, it has reviewed the processes for checking that all children are included in the headcount before leaving a room. However, while the setting has a policy in place, it has failed to update and share this with staff so they are clear about the procedures to follow. n Although some parents share that they are happy with the care of their children, overall, communication with parents is generally poor. Relevant information is not always obtained and shared with parents. Communication is not consistently

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need to do better?

13 June 2024 effective to ensure that their views and concerns are taken into account. As a result, some parents do not feel listened to and do not understand why some nursery policies, such as the drop-off and collection arrangements and arrangements for funding, are in place. This does not foster a positive two-way flow of information and maintain the efficient management of the setting. n Staff use the knowledge they have about their key children to plan effectively for their future learning. They build on what they know the children can already do and take into account their interests. For example, when babies visit a farm, staff use this interest to present a selection of farm-related resources and to talk to the babies about the animals, their names and the sounds they make. This helps them to learn about the world around them. n Children enjoy exploring in the garden. They have fun chasing each other in a

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need to do better?

well-considered game where they narrate the story and involve other children. Some children use the resources in the mud kitchen to create delicious potions and pretend to feed this to their friends. Staff efficiently support children's physical abilities and provide them with the space they need to fully explore. They understand when they need assistance but are also mindful that children need to take some risks to learn about safety. This helps children to understand about safe play. n Older children enjoy predicting which items will float and which will sink during planned adult-led water activities. Staff help to develop their understanding and language skills, for example by introducing words such as 'pipette'. Children talk about the water looking like a 'volcano' if they fill their container with too much water. Staff use appropriate questioning skills to help to enhance children's thinking. However, some staff ask questions in very quick succession and do not

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need to do better?

give children time to respond. This does not give children time to think for themselves and develop their future learning. n Children's independence is effectively promoted by staff. They teach them to do things for themselves from a very early age and facilitate this throughout the nursery. For example, some children serve their own meals, while older children learn to collect their plates from staff as they might do when they move on to school.

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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

13 June 2024 ensure that all staff understand the safeguarding policy and the procedures to follow if they are alerted to concerns about an adult working with children 26/07/2024

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Due date

ensure that all staff understand safeguarding training and respond to any safeguarding concerns in a timely and appropriate way 26/07/2024

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Due date

ensure that children are always within sight or hearing, particularly during transition times 26/07/2024

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Due date

enable an effective and regular two-way flow of information with parents and/or carers. 26/07/2024

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should:

n strengthen arrangements for creating a consistently strong team, while focusing on staff improving their understanding of when to give children time to think to consolidate their ideas.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488581 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10353950 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 54 Number of children on roll 108 Name of registered person Safari Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01206 546824 Date of previous inspection 21 July 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Safari Childcare registered in 2015. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 16 hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 2, 3, 4 and 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Opening times are from 7am until 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspection started on 11 June 2024. It was paused in line with 'Ofsted inspections and visits: Deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy'. Inspectors returned on 13 June 2024 to complete the inspection. Information which was not made available to the inspector on the day of inspection was then received. Inspectors returned on 27 June 2024 to gather additional evidence in line with the above policy. n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has 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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke 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 this was having on children's learning. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and viewed written feedback, taking account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including in relation to the suitability of staff.

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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

13 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.

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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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