Zebras - Colstons, Elmgrove

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision does not meet requirements The nominated individual, who is also the manager, does not comply with all the safeguarding and welfare requirements to keep children safe.

They do not ensure all staff are secure in the knowledge needed to deal with safeguarding concerns in a timely manner. For instance, staff do not know how to manage allegations against a staff member should they arise, including how to report a concern to the relevant agencies.The manager does not provide mentoring and support for staff to improve their interactions with children.

Staff often take on a supervisory role during children's play indoors and outdoors. They do not c...onsistently interact with or support children, which results in some children showing a lack of engagement. As a result, children become bored, which leads to some disruptive behaviour.

For example, they climb on a wooden dressing-up unit, compromising their safety.Despite these weaknesses, children arrive at the setting happy and enter with ease. They hang up their belongings independently.

Children are happy to see their friends. The connections they form with others help them to gain a sense of belonging.

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

Leaders do not ensure staff understand their roles and responsibilities.

They do not provide effective staff supervision to address training needs, and offer coaching and support. This means staff are unclear of their day-to-day responsibilities and are unable to meet the needs of the children. They do not have the necessary skills and understanding to ensure children's safety and to improve on practice.

Staff do not regularly implement hygiene practices. For instance, children and staff do not wash their hands before or after mealtimes, increasing the risk of germs spreading and cross-infection.Supervision of children during mealtimes is weak.

Staff do not consistently monitor the children eating. For instance, children are not within hearing and sight while eating and they move around the setting with food in their mouth. Staff do not recognise the risk this poses from choking, which puts children's safety at risk.

Leaders do not ensure staff implement the setting's safeguarding policy consistently. For example, some staff have their personal mobile phones in the rooms while working directly with children.Risk assessment is poor.

Staff do not recognise and manage hazards in the environment effectively. They do not consider the space needed to adequately place larger equipment to ensure children's safety. For example, staff do not identify the risk of children getting injured on a large trampoline which is positioned close to a wall as well as the main external door, which restricts access in case of an emergency.

Children have opportunities to access all areas of the club, including free-flow access to the playground outside. They spend extended amounts of time outside. Children develop their physical skills, engaging activities, such as kicking balls and using large fabrics to build dens.

They proudly show of their den creations to the staff.Leaders support children to keep themselves healthy and promote the importance of a good diet. For instance, children enjoy a healthy well-balanced snack on arrival, including access to fresh fruits and vegetables and they take part in daily outside physical activity.

Leaders communicate daily with the school to understand how children may be feeling on arrival. They receive information about children who may need more support on certain days. They liaise with the special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENCo) to support a consistent approach to meeting children's care and learning needs.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children 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 staff have a secure understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures, including how to identify, report and escalate safeguarding concerns and the safe use of mobile phones 07/02/2024 implement effective arrangements for the supervision of staff and provide effective support, coaching and training to promote the safety and interests of children 07/02/2024 ensure risk assessments are thorough, effective at identifying and minimising potential risks to children, and fully understood and adhered to by staff 26/01/2024 supervise children effectively during mealtimes by ensuring they are always within sight and hearing, and make sure staff are vigilant to the potential risk of children choking while eating 26/01/2024 review the organisation of daily routines to promote good hygiene practices at all times.

26/01/2024