The Stables

The Stables

Unique reference number (URN): 2820088 Address: 9b Grasscroft Road, Honley, Holmfirth, HD9 6HG Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 14/02/2025 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: The Stables Experience Limited

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Safeguarding standards not met

Leaders have not ensured that there is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that protects children from harm. Leaders do not ensure that all staff know how to identify children who may be at risk of harm or how to report concerns to external agencies when required. They do not take prompt or effective action to address gaps in staff safeguarding knowledge. As a result, some staff do not have the understanding they need to keep children safe. Leaders' failure to provide clear guidance, training and oversight means staff are unsure of their responsibilities and do not consistently follow safe practice.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Needs attention

Some children form relationships with staff but there are significant weaknesses in the key- person approach, which limits the quality and consistency of children's experiences. Some children wander around the setting without purpose and do not receive the support they need to engage in meaningful play. While some children take part in the activities available, this is inconsistent. For example, some children are invited to join in a planting activity, but not all children are given equal opportunities. Children generally follow routines and staff are kind and caring, building some positive relationships with them. Children have access to a range of resources and generally use them appropriately. They enjoy craft activities, such as making models from egg boxes and heart shapes, and they take turns on game consoles using a timer set by staff.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Needs attention

Children typically arrive happy and enjoy attending, but the lack of purposeful support reduces the impact of the provision on their development. There are some positive interactions between staff and children. Children often share their achievements with staff, who respond with praise. Leaders promote the importance of regular attendance. They communicate with parents about absences and follow up on children's attendance.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Urgent improvement

Leaders and staff do not ensure children's safety. Children are left unsupervised and out of sight during active play activities while all staff carry out routine tasks, such as cleaning up after meals. During this time, children play forceful ball games indoors in a confined space with a lack of adult supervision. This increases the risk of injury or damage. Staff demonstrate inconsistent understanding of children's allergies and intolerances. They are not fully aware of foods children cannot eat, or where the information is located. Leaders do not follow nutritional guidance when planning meals, resulting in meals that are inappropriate and unhealthy. For example, children are given highly processed foods that contain high salt content. Although children are offered some fresh foods, such as salad sticks, not all children receive these. During mealtimes, staff do not consistently support children to understand the importance of remaining seated at the table. Some children leave

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Urgent improvement

the table, wander around, and then return to finish their food without staff intervention.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Urgent improvement

Children appear happy and settled and staff generally promote children's manners, encouraging them to say 'please' and 'thank you' during routines.

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Inclusion Urgent improvement

Leaders do not have effective oversight of support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), or for children known or previously known to social care. Children's emerging needs are not consistently identified accurately or responded to promptly. Staff have not been trained to understand or implement the strategies required to support children with SEND. Inconsistencies in staff practice, skills and knowledge negatively affect children's experiences. As a result, staff do not have the expertise to provide the right support for children with SEND or those who face barriers to learning. This means some children do not overcome obstacles to their development as well as they could.

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Inclusion Urgent improvement

Ineffective key-person arrangements further limit the extent to which children's needs, including those with SEND, are met. Leaders and staff view inclusion simply as ensuring all children join in with games and activities, rather than providing tailored support that meets individual needs. Poor leadership oversight and weak adult supervision mean children are not supported well enough and are often left to create their own games, impacting on their attention and focus.

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Leadership and governance Urgent improvement

Overall, leadership is weak, and this is having a significant impact on the quality of the provision. The provider has not maintained sufficient oversight of the setting. There are breaches of the early years foundation stage that place children's safety and welfare at risk. Leaders do not identify weaknesses in staff practice or knowledge and do not conduct regular supervision sessions. As a result, staff remain ill-equipped to carry out key aspects of their role, such as recognising and responding to concerns about children's welfare or safety. Although leaders and staff have completed safeguarding training, they do not demonstrate secure knowledge or understanding of their child protection responsibilities. Staff decline opportunities to develop their knowledge and improve their practice further. The lack of strong leadership oversight, combined with inconsistent staff knowledge, means children are not protected well enough from potential harm.

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Leadership and governance Urgent improvement

Leaders have developed appropriate communication with other settings children attend and provide relevant information when needed. Staff report that they enjoy working at the club and recognise the importance of providing play-based experiences, although this is not consistently evident in practice. Leaders do not have a clear plan for improvement and do not recognise children's unique needs. This limits ambition for children and their overall attention and participation. Leaders keep parents informed about menus and general updates through a messaging group. Parents feel their children are happy and busy at the club. Leaders show some awareness of staff wellbeing and check in with them informally.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has not met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has not met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

The needs of all children are not consistently met. Leaders' insufficient oversight means that necessary changes are not made to ensure children's wellbeing remains a priority. Leaders do not make swift, informed decisions that place children's needs at the centre of practice. Children's safety, health and welfare are not prioritised sufficiently within the club. Leaders do not provide nutritious meals for children, resulting in them being offered food that is highly processed, high in salt and not aligned with recognised nutritional guidance, alongside a lack of attention to children's dietary needs. Poor deployment of staff and ineffective oversight have a significant impact on children's safety. Weak key-person arrangements and an ineffective approach to inclusion mean children do not receive tailored support. Staff do not actively support children to form relationships beyond their immediate friends or encourage inclusive group play. As a result, some children remain on the

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

periphery and do not feel fully part of the club community.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children typically demonstrate that they enjoy attending. They are confident in their routines and follow them well. Children show pride in the crafts they create, sharing their achievements with staff, and they benefit from occasional experiences that broaden their understanding of the world. For example, during a planting activity, children fill pots, add seeds and talk about how to care for their plants when they take them home. These moments show children's enthusiasm and curiosity.

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Next steps

The provider is not meeting the requirements of the Early years foundation stage and Childcare Register and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action.

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Next steps

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to have taken the following actions by the assigned date:

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Action Completion Date

deploy staff effectively depending on the type of activity and the age and needs of the children to ensure their safety and welfare 10/07/2026

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Action Completion Date

ensure the designated lead for safeguarding understands their role and responsibility to act on concerns raised about children, and how to escalate these in line with local safeguarding processes 10/07/2026

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Action Completion Date

ensure staff understand the safeguarding policies and procedures to keep children safe in the setting 10/07/2026

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Address:

9b Grasscroft Road Honley Holmfirth HD9 6HG

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Action Completion Date

ensure food provided for children is sufficient and meets nutritional requirements 10/07/2026

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Action Completion Date

ensure staff are aware of any special dietary requirements, food allergies and intolerances children have 10/07/2026

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Action Completion Date

provide effective supervision to identify and address emerging weaknesses in staff practice 10/07/2026

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Action Completion Date

ensure staff understand how to identify and support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities 10/07/2026

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Action Completion Date

implement an effective key-person system to meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage. 10/07/2026

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners, children and their families during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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. Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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About this inspection

Registered person: The Stables Experience Limited

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About this inspection

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:00

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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.

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Urgent improvement

services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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

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