Green Shoots Day Nursery

Inspection of Green Shoots Day Nursery 55 Palfrey Place, LONDON SW8 1AR

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

There are significant weaknesses in this setting. Not all staff fully understand or implement clear expectations relating to safeguarding as well as teaching and learning. This failure compromises the overall standard of care and education offered to children. The setting does not provide a well-planned or purposeful curriculum. Learning is largely incidental and fails to support children's next steps in development. As a result, children do not make the progress that they are capable of. Nevertheless, children settle quickly on arrival and separate from their parents and carers with ease.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Staff do not demonstrate the necessary skills to plan and deliver activities that build on children's existing knowledge and abilities effectively. This includes insufficient support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For instance, when staff interact with children, including those with SEND, they fail to implement strategies that promote children's development, such as advancing communication or supporting personal, social and emotional growth. Additionally, some children are left without purposeful adult interaction for extended periods, which does not support their ongoing engagement or progress.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Staff do not receive needed guidance and coaching. They struggle to plan engaging activities or address behaviour effectively. Staff fail to set clear and age appropriate behaviour expectations. For instance, when children lose interest, staff resort to negative ultimatum, such as 'If you don't sit and listen, you won't get any stickers or toys.' Children with SEND do not receive tailored support, and learning opportunities are missed. This leads to poor outcomes. Children are left without meaningful adult interaction, their developmental needs are not met and progress is limited. Despite this, children generally form positive relationships with staff but their overall learning and development are compromised.

p.2

need to do better?

n Some staff, including the designated safeguarding lead, lack a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures. They are unclear about the correct procedures to follow when an allegation is raised. This undermines the setting's ability to keep children safe. n Staff fail to recognise risks in the learning environment. For example, on the day of the inspection, snails were introduced into the garden for children to observe, yet staff did not directly supervise children or link this activity to clear learning intentions. The lack of effective risk assessment compromises children's safety. n Staff fail to deploy themselves effectively during mealtimes and snack times. Although staffing levels are adequate, they do not supervise babies appropriately. For example, staff strap babies into chairs and line them up

p.2

need to do better?

9 July 2025 against the wall, leaving them unsupervised. They offer cucumber sticks that are not suitable for babies' age. On occasion, children take food from the plates of others and eat it without staff noticing. The lack of effective risk assessment and supervision of children places babies at risk of choking and fails to safeguard those with specific dietary requirements. n Staff plan group time activities without considering children's developmental stages and individual needs. They discourage babies and children who want to explore on their own and expect them to take part in structured learning. Staff tell children that 'It's time to learn,' and physically move them to join in. This leads to children becoming frustrated and restless and missing out on meaningful learning experiences. This approach significantly limits children's enthusiasm for learning and prevents them from developing essential social and

p.2

need to do better?

emotional skills. n Staff fail to adapt activities to children's individual developmental stages or prior knowledge, largely because they have not received adequate training to do so effectively. For example, all children, regardless of age or needs, must take part in 'Gingerbread Man' themed tasks, such as rolling dough, mark-making in sand and counting to ten. As a result, many children lose interest and wander away, missing valuable learning opportunities. This lack of targeted planning and insufficient staff training leads to poor engagement and limits children's progress. n Leaders and staff do not provide suitable sleeping arrangements that fully support children's physical well-being. For example, some babies are strapped into pushchairs to sleep. This limits their ability to turn and move while sleeping and therefore hinders their overall physical development. Additionally, staff are unclear about accident reporting procedures, leading to inconsistent or

p.3

need to do better?

incomplete documentation of incidents. This lack of understanding means accidents may not be appropriately acknowledged, recorded or communicated, further placing children's well-being and safety at risk. n Although some staff hold qualifications and lead learning and play activities, they do so without fully understanding the purpose or content of these experiences. The language staff model for children is often inconsistent, with grammatical errors and incorrect pronunciation. This has a direct impact on what children hear and absorb, potentially impeding their ability to use and apply language correctly in their own communication. n Staff do not use observations or assessments to monitor children's progress or identify clear next steps for learning. As a result, they plan activities that are too generalised and fail to target what each child needs to learn next. This limits children's progress and preparation for future learning.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

ensure all staff, including the designated safeguarding lead, demonstrate a secure and comprehensive understanding of procedures to follow when concerns arise about a child or any member of staff 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure risk assessment is effective to identify and remove anything that a child may come into contact with 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure staff supervise children well, especially during mealtimes to keep them safe 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

train staff to understand how to handle children respectfully and manage their behaviour appropriately 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure procedures around accidents are followed consistently to help keep children safe 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

establish an effective supervision arrangement to help identify and address gaps in staff's practice and teaching skills 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

provide a suitable sleeping arrangement for all children. 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

9 July 2025 ensure all staff working with children have sufficient command of the English language in order to support their learning effectively 29/07/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure all staff understand the way children learn and plan to meet their individual learning needs 29/07/2025

p.5

Due date

implement an ambitious and a well- sequenced curriculum appropriate to children's ages and stages of development 29/07/2025

p.5

Due date

ensure staff use observations and assessments effectively to identify clear next steps and plan to meet children's needs. 29/07/2025

p.5

Setting details

Unique reference number EY451109 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10398246 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.6

inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Green Shoots Day Nursery Ltd

p.6

reference number

Telephone number 07775 668196 Date of previous inspection 10 October 2019

p.6

Information about this early years setting

Green Shoots Day Nursery registered in 2012. It operates in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nursery is open Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm, for 48 weeks of the year. The nursery employs eight staff, four of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery provides funded early education for eligible children.

p.6

Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years provision. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke with staff and interacted with children. n Parents shared their views about the setting with the inspector. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider and reviewed relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

p.7

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.

p.7

Inspection activities

9 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.

p.7

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.8

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8