Fairfield Playbox Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is inadequate

Weaknesses in the leadership and management of the nursery compromise children's safety.

The management team and those who have oversight of the setting have failed to follow the correct safeguarding procedures. The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) was not contacted following safeguarding concerns and Ofsted were not notified. This is a breach of requirement.

Despite the identified weaknesses, children are happy and settled and confidently explore the well-organised environment. They have good relationships with their peers and the staff and confidently go to them when they need support. When children ar...rive at the setting, they happily say goodbye to their parents and are pleased to see the staff.

Staff engage well with children and as a result, children welcome them into their play.Staff place a strong focus on children's social skills and provide activities to promote these. For example, children work together as they pour water through guttering and take it in turns to collect it at the end.

Children behave well and they are interested and motivated to take part in the activities. Overall, children benefit from the staff's positive interaction as they play.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The management team and those who have oversight of the setting do not have a thorough understanding of safeguarding procedures, including what to do if there is an allegation raised about a member of staff.

This could lead to children being put at risk. However, staff are deployed well and the learning environment is secure.The provider does not have a good understanding of when to notify Ofsted of any significant event which could affect the smooth running of the nursery.

The manager and staff have a good understanding of their curriculum and how children learn. Staff plan activities around a weekly theme and take into account children's next steps and interests. Staff regularly observe and monitor children's progress and quickly address any gaps in children's development.

As a result, all children make good progress from their starting points.Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. They work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure all children get the additional support they need.

Staff place a strong focus on developing children's language skills. They set up activities to encourage these. For example, children are supported to play with each other during role play, staff join in and talk to children as they play, acting as good role models for communication.

Staff ask questions to extend children's learning, but sometimes, they do not give them time to think and respond.Staff manage children's behaviour well, they are good role models and promote positive behaviour. They talk to children calmly and support children to learn to share, take turns, respect and show kindness to each other.

Staff have good relationships with parents and keep them up to date with their children's learning. For example, parents are regularly invited in for nursery events and have opportunities to look at children's learning records. Before children start, parents are invited to visit the setting and the nursery expectations are shared with them.

The manager and staff regularly look at what they are doing well and what could be improved. They collect feedback from parents and other professionals to support this. For example, they have recently introduced smaller group times to ensure all children's needs are being met and they can access all the resources.

Staff are well supported and attend regular meetings and supervisions with the manager. Regular training is available and staff are encouraged to complete qualifications to develop their practice.Staff support children to develop their understanding of healthy lifestyles.

For example, children have plenty of opportunities to engage in physical play and enjoy a healthy snack while at the nursery. However, staff do not encourage children to develop their independence skills when managing their own care routines or having their snack.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date ensure that all staff, including those who have oversight of the setting have a good understanding of safeguarding and how to manage any allegations against a member of staff.26/07/2024 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: support staff to encourage children's independence skills more and help them to manage their own personal needs continue to support children's communication skills and give them enough time to think and respond to questions.