Ellies nursery

Inspection of Ellies nursery 230, High street, Epping, Essex CM16 4AP

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

The provider has failed to put in place the arrangements needed to keep children safe. Poor oversight of safer recruitment processes means that not all staff have completed enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. The provider has not ensured that staff have a good enough understanding of what they should do if a child is at risk of harm. There are inconsistencies in staff's knowledge of what to do about concerns regarding a colleague's behaviour or practice. As a result, children's safety and welfare are compromised. Staff do not have a secure understanding of safe sleeping guidance. As a result, the poor implementation of sleeping practices is a risk to children.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite these weaknesses, there are some strengths in the nursery. Children show care and kindness to one another. They enjoy looking into mirrors with one another and talk about the expressions they make. Staff provide children with opportunities to develop their independence. For example, staff encourage children to engage with self-care tasks such as washing their hands. This helps build children's confidence and their sense of belonging.

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need to do better?

n The provider does not follow robust safer recruitment procedures such as obtaining enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks for all staff. This does not ensure that some staff who have unsupervised access to children are suitable to work with them. This does not keep children safe from adults whose suitability has not been verified. n The provider has not ensured that those who take the designated lead responsibility for safeguarding are aware of their roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, staff do not have secure safeguarding knowledge, and the provider does not identify gaps in their understanding. This compromises children's safety. n Inductions for staff are weak, and the provider does not ensure staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Procedures for managing staff performance are not thorough enough to identify weaknesses. For example, staff do not receive regular supervisions, to monitor their practice or to identify their development

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need to do better?

needs to consistently raise standards. n Safe sleeping practices are not always used. For example, young children who sleep in pushchairs are not supported to transition to sleep safely and comfortably. The supervision of children who sleep in cots is not sufficient to assure their safety. Young children pace and move around in cots. Staff do not intervene well enough to support children during their sleep times and reduce the risks associated with this. n Staff interactions with children vary throughout the nursery. Children become

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need to do better?

11 June 2025 disinterested due to lack of support they receive from staff. Staff are busy carrying out tasks, to organise the next part of the routine, rather than ensuring that children's needs are being met. At times, there are staff who have meaningful interactions with children and support play opportunities. However, the inconsistency in the quality of teaching impacts on children, as they are not always supported in their learning to reach their full potential. n Children benefit from nutritious meals and snacks. They learn how to cut fruit safely. Staff model descriptive language to correspond with their actions. For example, children learn to 'cut' and 'squeeze' oranges that they can eat. Children show keen interest in following instructions and are praised for the efforts they make. n Staff have a kind approach with children. Children settle well and learn to follow rules and understand boundaries. Staff speak to children about their behaviour

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need to do better?

and help to understand their feelings. Staff speak to children about what has just happened to help then with managing their emotions. n The manager is committed to make the changes to improve the setting and there is a plan in place, which includes strengthening staff training, it is, however, too early to see the impact of the support that is planned.

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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 a Disclosure and Barring Service check is completed for all members of staff, following effective and robust recruitment processes for all those who are working with or have access to children, are suitable 25/06/2025

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Due date

ensure all staff, including designated safeguarding leads, have up-to-date training and knowledge of safeguarding issues, including allegations processes in line with local safeguarding reporting and procedures 09/07/2025

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Due date

11 June 2025 ensure managers have effective oversight of practice within the nursery and support staff with undertaking appropriate professional development and training opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills 09/07/2025

p.3

Due date

ensure managers deliver effective inductions and supervisions to all staff, and embed expectations to improve the overall quality of the nursery 09/07/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure staff take all reasonable steps to make children's sleeping arrangements safe and suitable to assure their safety, in line with government guidance. 09/07/2025

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should:

n strengthen the quality and consistency of staff interactions to better support children's engagement in all learning opportunities n improve the deployment of staff appropriately to help children get the support they need to make good progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2786983 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10407020 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Ellies Nursery Epping Limted

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reference number

Telephone number 01992662290 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Ellies nursery registered in 2024. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery is open from 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. The nursery provides funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Inspection activities

11 June 2025 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

11 June 2025 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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