Early Steps Preschool

Summary of outcome

All early years providers must meet the legal requirements in the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage, which you can find at www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. If we find that a provider is not meeting the requirements, we can take action to ensure they put matters right.

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Summary of outcome

On 17 September 2024, we received concerns that the provider was not meeting requirements relating to staff: child ratios, health, supporting and understanding children's behaviour and the safety and suitability of the premises.

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Summary of outcome

On 3 October 2024, we carried out a regulatory visit. We found the provider was not meeting some of the requirements. We have served a welfare requirements notice. This is a legal notice that requires the provider to take the actions below within the timescales set out.

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Summary of outcome

The provider will be able to give parents further information about this. The provider is still registered with Ofsted.

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Summary of outcome

n ensure designated safeguarding leads have a secure understanding of when to make referrals to local safeguarding partnerships

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Summary of outcome

n ensure all staff understand their safeguarding training, and improve their knowledge of how to recognise signs of abuse and understand the referral processes to keep children safe from harm n ensure staff deployment arrangements are effective in consistently meeting the individual needs of the children and ensuring their safety

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Summary of outcome

n put appropriate steps in place to monitor the deployment of staff, so children are always supervised effectively during mealtimes

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Summary of outcome

n take action to ensure children's good health is consistently promoted

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Summary of outcome

n improve arrangements for managing children's special dietary requirements to ensure that staff are aware of children who have food allergies, preferences and intolerances

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Summary of outcome

n ensure that any areas used for the preparation of food for children are clean and hygienic

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Summary of outcome

n provide staff with support and coaching to implement appropriate and consistent strategies for managing children's behaviour, to help all children to feel safe and understand how to manage their own feelings and behaviour

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Summary of outcome

n put appropriate arrangements in place to ensure children with special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND) have their individual needs met, in line with the SEND code of practice

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Summary of outcome

n take action to ensure that the premises is clean and fit for purpose, including being compliant with health and safety legislation and hygiene requirements

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Summary of outcome

n ensure all staff have the knowledge required to enable then to respond appropriately in an emergency

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Summary of outcome

n ensure a separate baby room for children under the age of two is equipped and used appropriately to meet these children's needs

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Summary of outcome

n 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

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Summary of outcome

n ensure all information and records are in place and available, to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the provision.

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Summary of outcome

We suspended the provider's registration on 3 October 2024 because we believe children may be at risk of harm. Suspension allows time for the provider to take steps to reduce or eliminate the risk of harm to children. The provider has a right to appeal against a suspension. The provider may not provide childcare for which registration is required while the suspension is in place and may commit an offence if they do so.

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Summary of outcome

On 25 October 2024, we found the provider had met some of the safeguarding and welfare actions but not others. The provider had taken steps to improve the safety and suitability of the premises, improved staff knowledge of responding to a medical emergency, and strengthened arrangements for supervision of children and deployment of staff. However, they had not met all of the actions, therefore we have re-issued and served a welfare requirements notice. This is a legal notice that requires the provider to take the actions below within the timescales set out.

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Summary of outcome

The provider will be able to give parents further information about this.

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Summary of outcome

Actions needed by 10 November 2024: n ensure all staff understand their safeguarding training, and improve their knowledge of how to recognise signs of abuse and wider child protection issues to keep children safe from harm

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Summary of outcome

n put appropriate arrangements in place to ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their individual needs met, in line with the SEND code of practice

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Summary of outcome

n take action to implement a rigorous system for risk assessment to ensure staff robustly know how to identify hazards and manage these effectively and promptly, so that children are not exposed to risks.

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Summary of outcome

We will monitor the provider's response to ensure the actions are successfully completed. The provider is still registered with Ofsted.

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Summary of outcome

On 29 October 2024, we lifted the suspension because the provider took appropriate action to deal with the matter that led to the suspension. We are satisfied that the identified risk of harm to children has been removed. The provider is still registered with Ofsted.

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Publication of complaints

We publish details of complaints made against childminders, home childcarers and childcare providers where we or the provider have taken action in order to meet legal requirements.

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Publication of complaints

We publish details of complaints on our website for a period of five years.

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Publication of complaints

For further information about the complaints process please view the Concerns and complaints about childminders and childcare providers leaflet .

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