Little Swans Pre-School

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 12 July 2024 and 22 July 2024, we received concerns that the provider was not meeting some of these requirements.

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Summary of outcome

On 23 July 2024, we carried out a regulatory telephone call. We found the provider was not meeting some of the requirements and had taken action to put this right. The provider had changed the procedures they follow when parents collect their children to help ensure that children are not able to leave the premises unsupervised.

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Summary of outcome

We also found the provider was not meeting some other requirements. We have issued actions for the provider to take. The provider will be able to give parents further information about this.

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Summary of outcome

n ensure that referrals are made to the relevant external safeguarding agencies without delay

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Summary of outcome

n ensure that staff with lead responsibility for safeguarding have a good understanding of the appropriate safeguarding protocols for reporting concerns about children's welfare and allegations made against staff.

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Summary of outcome

On 18 October 2024, we carried out a regulatory visit. The focus of the visit was to check whether the provider had met the safeguarding and welfare actions raised during the regulatory telephone call on 23 July 2024.

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Summary of outcome

We identified that there continued to be weakness with safeguarding procedures and the actions raised previously had not been met. We have therefore served a welfare requirements notice. This is a legal notice that requires the provider to take the actions below within the timescales set out. The provider will be able to give parents further information about this. Action needed by 21 October 2024:

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Summary of outcome

n improve safeguarding arrangements to ensure that those with lead safeguarding roles work with the relevant agencies to share and obtain information about children in a timely manner.

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Summary of outcome

n ensure that children who would benefit from additional support receive the extra help they require to meet their individual needs

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Summary of outcome

n provide thorough inductions and ongoing support for new managers to ensure they understand and carry out their roles and responsibilities.

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Summary of outcome

Additionally, at the visit on 18 October 2024, we found the provider was not meeting some other requirements but had taken action to put this right. The provider had ensured that leaders and staff understand the whistleblowing procedures and the requirement to escalate any concerns to the relevant agencies. They had taken action to develop leaders' and staff's knowledge of the requirement to record any instances of physical intervention or restraint and to inform parents of any such occurrence. The provider had reviewed their risk assessments to ensure children are supervised appropriately during periods of transition, such as at the end of the session. They had also implemented an induction process for new staff, to familiarise them with their role and responsibilities from the start. Furthermore, we found that the provider had failed to notify Ofsted of some significant events, which is a requirement of their registration. However, they now understand what changes and

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Summary of outcome

On 24 October 2024, we carried out a regulatory telephone call. The focus of the telephone call was to check whether the provider had met the safeguarding and welfare action due by 21 October 2024, raised during the regulatory visit on 18 October 2024. We found that those with lead safeguarding roles had taken action to work in partnership with other agencies, to help them and staff to keep children safe. We are satisfied the provider has met the safeguarding and welfare action raised that was due by 21 October 2024.

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Summary of outcome

On 5 November 2024, we carried out a regulatory visit. The focus of the visit was to check whether the provider had met the safeguarding and welfare actions raised during the regulatory visit on 18 October 2024.

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Summary of outcome

We found that the provider had not met the actions set in the welfare requirement notice. We have served another welfare requirements notice. This is a legal notice that requires the provider to take the actions below within the timescales set out. The provider will be able to give parents further information about this. Action needed by 20 November 2024:

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Summary of outcome

n improve the knowledge and understanding of those with lead safeguarding roles to ensure they carry out their roles and responsibilities fully and effectively

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Summary of outcome

n improve the knowledge and understanding of staff to ensure they identify and escalate any concerns about children in a timely manner.

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Summary of outcome

Additionally, we suspended the provider's registration on 5 November 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 November 2024, we carried out a regulatory visit. The focus of the visit was to check whether the provider had met the safeguarding and welfare actions raised during the regulatory visit on 5 November 2024.

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Summary of outcome

We found that the provider had completed some training to increase their understanding of safeguarding procedures. However, they were not able to demonstrate that they had met all of the actions set in the welfare requirements notice. We have served another welfare requirements notice. This is a legal notice that requires the provider to take the actions below within the timescales set out. The provider will be able to give parents further information about this.

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Summary of outcome

n ensure all staff, including those with lead safeguarding roles, understand how to identify and act upon any safeguarding concerns.

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Summary of outcome

On 9 December 2024, we lifted the suspension because the provider is engaging in intensive onsite support from the local authority to deal with the matter that led to the suspension.

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Summary of outcome

On 18 December 2024, we received concerns that the provider was not meeting requirements relating to s afeguarding policies and procedures.

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Summary of outcome

On 18 December 2024, we carried out a regulatory telephone call. We found the provider was not meeting some of the requirements.

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Summary of outcome

We suspended the provider's registration on 18 December 2024 because we believe children may be at risk of harm. 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. On 20 December 2024, the provider notified us of their wish to resign their registration. Consequently, we lifted the suspension to allow us to resign their registration. They are no longer a registered childcare provider.

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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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