Little Dragonfly Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is inadequate

Children's health and safety are not assured at this nursery. The provider's oversight of the nursery is insufficient. For example, significant weaknesses and breaches to the safeguarding and welfare requirements have an impact on children's safety, learning and well-being.

The provider fails to assess and reduce risks to children. Numerous, heavy, unsecured tables and display boards are left leaning against the wall of the nursery room. Access to stairs is covered by a loose table, laid on its side, close to where children play.

These hazards are not identified by the provider. The provider fails to understand t...he necessity to establish and implement risk assessments to inform staff practice to keep children safe. The provider does not ensure that children receive a high quality of education.

Staff do not understand what they are to teach children, when and why. Consequently, staff simply allow children to choose any toys that they would like to play with. Staff sit with children and talk about what children are doing, but give too little attention to identifying and providing the support that children need.

There is very little thought about the key information children need to learn. As a result, children wander about the nursery in search of interesting activities. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not develop a positive attitude to learning.

Staff are kind and caring towards children. They are playful and establish secure relationships with children. This helps children to settle well at the nursery.

Children enjoy playing with their friends.

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

The provider has failed to establish a curriculum at the nursery. They lack the expertise to resolve this issue.

The provider relies too much on advice from the local authority to improve the quality of the nursery. Children's learning activities happen at random. This is because the provider has not identified the key knowledge that staff should teach to children, nor when.

As a result, children learn little and valuable time is wasted.Recently, due to broken nursery toilets, the provider allowed nursery children to access the toilets in the adjoining, unregistered premises that are open to members of the public. The provider did not assess the safety of the premises adequately.

Although the nursery toilets are now back in use, this lack of forethought put children at risk of harm.The provider does not implement effective checks on the suitability of all nursery staff. For example, the provider has allowed staff to complete checks on their own suitability.

This does not ensure the suitability of individuals working with the children. The provider cannot be assured that staff remain suitable to work with children.The nursery's provision for children with SEND is poor.

The provider does not ensure that children with SEND are referred to external experts in a timely manner. Staff have not made links with some professionals who are already involved with the children. This means that children with SEND do not have their needs met.

The provider fails to put the necessary risk assessments in place. Despite staff bringing hazards to the provider's attention, these are not removed in a timely way. Staff fail to identify other risks to children, such as when children climb on the outdoor equipment with dummies in their mouths.

Children are at risk of being injured.The provider does not make sure that children benefit from a balanced and nutritious menu of meals. For instance, staff provide food items that are highly processed and high in sugar content, such as chocolate pancakes, pastries and sugary cereals.

This hinders children's knowledge and understanding of how to make healthy lifestyle choices.The provider does not ensure that staff receive the training and effective coaching that they need to improve their work with children. As a result, staff lack knowledge of what key information to teach children, when and why.

Children do not make the progress they are capable of.Staff do not demonstrate a good understanding of the ratio requirements. This means that, at times, staff care for too many children than is safe to do so.

Furthermore, on arrival, staff spend time setting up the nursery. This means they cannot adequately meet the needs of children.Staff are not fully aware of the important details of child protection plans for children at the nursery.

For example, staff do not know of the specific concerns in children's home lives. The provider cannot be assured staff are doing all they can to safeguard children.Staff promote children's physical development reasonably well.

Children have frequent access to being physically active in the nursery's outdoor garden. They delight in using the nursery's outdoor apparatus to climb and ride on the wheeled toys. These opportunities help children to become physically confident and capable.

Staff support children to understand the nursery's daily routine well. For example, they talk to children about what will come next after tidy-up time. Children proudly show staff that they know where the play resources belong.

This helps to build children's personal development.

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?

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action.

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to: Due date ensure robust risk assessments are in place and followed so that hazards are identified and minimised to ensure children's safety 10/01/2025 ensure staff are deployed to meet the required staff: child ratios, so the needs of children are met and they are always safe 10/01/2025 ensure the procedures for checking the ongoing suitability of staff working with children are robust 10/01/2025 ensure staff delivering the curriculum have the appropriate knowledge, skills and a clear understanding of how children learn 10/01/2025 ensure meals provided are healthy, balanced and nutritious 10/01/2025 ensure effective arrangements are in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities so that staff follow the support plans to meet their needs and refer children to external experts in a timely manner 10/01/2025 take all reasonable steps to ensure the premises are suitable and fit for purpose to ensure the safety of children, staff and visitors 10/01/2025 ensure staff are fully aware of the details of child protection plans so that they are alert to the issues of concern in children's life at home.10/01/2025 To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date establish and implement an ambitious curriculum for each area of learning so that children learn the essential knowledge they need.

31/01/2025