Academy 4 Kids

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is inadequate

The provider does not adequately make sure that all staff follow safeguarding practices, policies and procedures. This compromises children's welfare, safety and well-being.

The quality of teaching is variable in the different areas of the nursery. In the area for children over two, staff support children to feel secure and confident. Children practise their self-help and care skills, and they learn to use the toilet and wash their hands.

Staff guide and act as sound role models in their play. Children learn to share, take turns and play cooperatively with their peers. They show they understand the routines and f...ollow instructions well.

Staff get down to children's eye level and use visual cues to help them understand. This helps to prepare children for their next stage in their developmental journey. However, this is less so in the under-two's areas.

While some staff engage and support children's learning and progress, others are less secure. Some staff often prioritise routine tasks over meeting children's emotional needs. In other rooms, inconsistent staff practice disrupts children's learning.

For example, some children wander around, and some staff do not engage them as well others.Staff working with older children are skilled at motivating children and encourage them to concentrate. However, some staff working with younger children are less skilled at actively promoting children's communication to help them develop their listening, thinking and speaking skills.

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

The provider does not meet several requirements of the 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage'. This lack of compliance impacts their ability to drive and sustain improvement.Since the last inspection, changes have been made to some of the leadership roles.

Staff supervision systems continue to be ineffective. Leaders hold regular meetings with staff to discuss their roles and responsibilities. Despite known gaps in staff's practice, swift measures have not been taken to ensure that all staff offer quality learning and development experiences for all children and meet their needs effectively.

The provider does not ensure that all staff adhere to the mobile phones policy. Some staff place these in the children's playrooms, and some store their phones in their personal bags, without the knowledge of leaders. This inconsistency in staff implementation of procedures compromises children's welfare and safety.

In pre-school areas, key persons work effectively to meet children's individual care and learning needs. However, staff in the areas for children under two are not well deployed to meet children's care and emotional needs, such as during key routines like eating and nappy changes. This does not help support children's self-esteem or help them to form bonds with their familiar adult.

In the areas for children over two, there are suitable and safe hygiene practices. However, this is not consistent in all areas of the nursery. For example, some staff use a container of water for all the children to wash their hands in.

This poses the risk of cross-contamination and compromises children's health and well-being.In pre-school, staff use effective behaviour management strategies to support children's good behaviour. These children are very well engaged and motivated in their chosen activities and play experiences.

However, some other staff do not manage children's emerging understanding of safe boundaries as effectively. For example, in the area for children under two, when children climb on chairs, staff approach them from behind without explanation or clear communication. This means that some children do not learn about right from wrong.

Some staff do not adhere to known government safety guidance for safe sleeping for young babies. This compromises children's welfare and safety.There are inconsistencies in how staff identify risks.

For example, small objects, such as beads and buttons, are scattered on the floor. The lack of effective risk assessment compromises children's well-being and safety.Other safeguarding measures, such as vetting processes, are in place to make sure that staff are suitable to work with children.

Leaders also ensure that staff are aware of how to identify, manage and report any child welfare concerns or concerns about the conduct of staff, if necessary.The quality of teaching is secure in the areas for children over two. Staff are knowledgeable about what children know and can do.

Teaching practices in support of children are secure and effective. Consequently, children make sound progress in their developmental journey. They are friendly and confident in their interactions, including with visitors.

There are good arrangements in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children who need targeted support grow in confidence and develop independence as a result of the support they receive.Parents praise staff as welcoming and caring.

They report that they are happy with the feedback about their children's care and education.

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 take all safety measures to ensure staff's personal mobile phones are stored securely and not accessible around children 09/02/2024 improve staff supervision to support, coach and train staff and identify solutions to gaps in practice as they arise 09/02/2024 improve the deployment of key persons to ensure care and learning are tailored to meet children's individual needs, in particular babies and toddlers, to help them feel settled and secure 09/02/2024 ensure staff facilitate appropriate hygiene practices with regards to wiping children's noses and handwashing practices, to minimise the risk of cross-contamination, in particular for children under two 09/02/2024 help staff gain the knowledge and skills to support, understand and manage children's behaviour in an appropriate way 09/02/2024 ensure staff working with children under two implement safe sleeping arrangements in line with the latest government safety guidance 09/02/2024 ensure staff take all reasonable steps to identify and minimise all potential risks to children, particularly removing choking hazards.09/02/2024 To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date improve the consistency of the delivery of the curriculum consistently to ensure all staff promote children's care and learning 29/03/2024 strengthen the consistency of staff's delivery across the nursery of the programme for communication and language.

29/03/2024