The Oaks Centre Ltd

Inspection of The Oaks Centre Ltd Collier Row Road, ROMFORD RM5 2DD

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children are happy and secure at this spacious and inviting nursery. However, the key-person system is not fully effective, which means children's needs are not always met. Staff are kind and caring towards children and are positive role models to children. Generally, children are well behaved. They listen to staff's instructions, and they share and take turns. However, at times, staff do not fully support children to manage their emotions, and strategies that are used for managing behaviour are inconsistent.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff provide children with an interesting and creative learning environment. The curriculum focuses on promoting all the areas of learning. Children enjoy daily indoor and outdoor play and trips into the local area. However, staff's interactions with children at times lack enthusiasm and show a lack of an in-depth understanding of the curriculum. Staff provide reassurance to children when they settle in, and they help build their independence skills. For example, children manage their care needs, such as washing their hands and taking their shoes off and putting them back on during play. Children learn about the importance of oral hygiene. For instance, staff provide learning activities, such as tooth brushing. Children skilfully brush their teeth as they listen to and sing along to the tooth brushing song.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children well and work hard to support their learning and development. However, the key-person system does not fully support children's well-being. For example, individual staff members are allocated high numbers of children as their key children. This means that they do not have the capacity to ensure that each child's care is tailored to their individual needs as the task is too great for one person. New leaders have identified this weakness in practice and are putting steps in place to address this. However, changes have not been embedded yet. Therefore, staff are not consistently supporting children to make more progress in their learning. In addition, some parents are not aware of their child's next steps in learning, and this hinders how they can support their child further at home. n Staff manage children's behaviour well overall. However, at times, small groups of children become agitated and do not want to take turns, noise levels are

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need to do better?

increased and play becomes chaotic. Staff do not always demonstrate that they follow the same behaviour management policy and provide consistent strategies so that all children learn to manage their emotions and understand behaviour rules. n New leaders have not yet been able to offer staff regular staff supervisions to help them improve their practice. This has resulted in some weaknesses in the

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need to do better?

2 July 2025 delivery of the curriculum, which means children are not offered consistently high-quality teaching and learning, which, at times, hinders their learning outcomes. However, staff have completed mandatory training, and some staff are undertaking childcare qualifications as well as working at the nursery. n Staff interact well with children. They get down to their level and talk to them and ask general questions of them during play. However, they do not consistently engage in more challenging conversations to fully encourage children to learn beyond what they already know. n Staff support children effectively to develop their physical skills. For example, children run at pace, run in different directions and kick a ball. They learn teamwork and social skills. Children climb apparatus and ride wheeled toys in the large outdoor open space. Children enjoy planting vegetables and visiting the local farm.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are well established. Parents speak highly of staff, and they are generally happy with the care and education that staff offer. Parents are invited for sports day and other celebrations at the nursery. Parents are eager to share their job roles with children. For example, children visit elderly care homes with staff and parents to help them understand the wider world and how we can help others.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

ensure that each child is assigned a key person to ensure that their care is tailored to meet their individual needs. 31/07/2025

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should:

n strengthen staff's understanding to consistently manage children's behaviour in an appropriate way to help support children's well-being n keep all parents consistently updated about their child's progress and learning so that they can help support their child's learning at home n focus staff supervision even more precisely to ensure consistency in high-quality

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should:

2 July 2025 interactions across the staff team and to address any gaps in staff's knowledge n develop high-quality interactions between adults and children across the staff team to help deliver the curriculum.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY443861 Local authority Barking and Dagenham Inspection number 10408486 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 24 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person The Oaks Centre Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02085979171 Date of previous inspection 21 October 2022

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Information about this early years setting

The Oaks Centre Ltd registered in 2012. It is situated in Collier Row, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The pre-school operates on Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There is also provision for a breakfast club, after-school club and holiday play scheme. The setting employs nine members of childcare staff. All of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications ranging from levels 2 to 6. The setting offers government funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked 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 that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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.

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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

2 July 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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