Excel Child Care Services Ltd

Inspection of Excel Child Care Services Ltd 96 Forest Hill Road, LONDON SE22 0RS

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Inspection date: 26 June 2024 - 18 July 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

Leaders have failed to ensure that safeguarding and welfare requirements are met, and this has an impact on the safety of children. The provider has not ensured that risk assessment arrangements are fully understood by staff. When an accident or incident occurs, leaders are unclear about the procedures to follow.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff consider the needs and development of the different children in their care. Leaders have developed a curriculum that supports children to make progress across all areas of learning. Staff support children to explain their play to others to boost their confidence and strengthen their developing friendships with their peers. Children play together well and seek out their friends when they want to play with others.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff demonstrate the respectful behaviour they expect of children. This helps children to learn polite language, such as saying please and thank you. When staff ask children for help, they are happy to contribute. Children tidy-up toys, lay the table for lunch and complete other tasks that help the day run smoothly. Children take pride in their contributions and staff praise them for their efforts.

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need to do better?

n Leaders do not ensure new staff receive the support and coaching they need during the induction process. Senior practitioners tasked with supporting new colleagues are given little support in this role. This has led to incidents where staff lack understanding of safeguarding, child protection, and health and safety issues. Their failure to follow instructions and report concerns has put children at risk. n Staff deployment is ineffective. At times, leaders and staff in senior positions do not communicate instructions clearly to ensure children are supervised effectively. This means that less qualified staff are left to supervise and support children without suitable support. n Although staff undertake daily risk assessments, they are not alert to changes in the environment throughout the day. Staff do not consider the best way to organise the environment to ensure all children can access resources effectively.

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need to do better?

For example, children overcrowd popular activities as the table is too small and they become frustrated. n Supervision arrangements are weak. Leaders have not ensured that staff receive the coaching they need to improve their personal effectiveness. Senior practitioners lack the confidence required to meet children's needs and take the necessary steps to protect them from harm. Staff do not challenge the poor practice and behaviour of other adults in the setting or raise concerns in a timely way.

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need to do better?

26 June 2024 n Leaders do not demonstrate that they are fully aware of their responsibilities in regards to making referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) when required. Furthermore, the procedures in place for checking the ongoing suitability of staff are weak. n During the day, staff organise activities like play dough making or story time to support children to learn together as a group. When interacting with children, staff model the skills they want children to learn and talk to them as they play. This introduces children to new ideas and vocabulary. n Leaders have taken the decision to eliminate most allergens from the menu to create an inclusive atmosphere at mealtimes. Children eat freshly prepared meals from a varied and nutritionally balanced menu. At mealtimes, children are well behaved. Staff have time to sit with children and support them to have social conversations with their friends.

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need to do better?

n Children's key persons and the setting's special educational needs coordinator develop individual education plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Parents and external agencies contribute to plans for children's learning to ensure they make good progress from their starting points. This supports children as they transition between rooms and on to school. n Children's behaviour is positive and they participate in activities throughout the day. Staff support children to follow good hygiene routines so that children learn to care for their own bodies. However, staff do not always ensure that the learning environment is safe.

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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

ensure that any changes to staff circumstances are considered to ensure that all staff caring for children remain suitable and able to undertake their duties 30/08/2024

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Due date

provide robust induction and oversight for all new staff that helps them to understand their roles and responsibilities 30/08/2024

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Due date

26 June 2024 ensure that staffing arrangements are suitable to meet the needs of children and ensure their safety 30/08/2024

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Due date

ensure that when hazards are identified, the action taken to mitigate the risk is clearly communicated to all staff 30/08/2024

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Due date

put effective supervision arrangements in place for staff that provide support, coaching, and training for the practitioner and promote the interests of children 30/08/2024

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Due date

ensure that leaders fully understand their responsibilities regarding when to make referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 30/08/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY229507 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 10342619 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 60 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Excel Child Care Services Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 020 8299 6387 Date of previous inspection 3 July 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Excel Child Care Services Ltd registered in 2002. It is located in Dulwich in the London Borough of Southwark. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, for 50 weeks of the year and is closed on public bank holidays. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. A total of eight staff work at the nursery. Of these, four staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two at level two.

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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 inspection started on 26 June 2024. The inspector returned on 18 July 2024 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: Deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at pre-school. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation and discussed the impact of teaching on children. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum.

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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

26 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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