Smiley Faces Childcare

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement The provider/manager made an oversight regarding staffing arrangements. At the very beginning of the inspection there were no staff present who were currently qualified to administer paediatric first aid. This had a potential impact on children's safety.

However, the manager rectified this once the inspector pointed this out to them. Children happily engage in their chosen play and participate in activities that staff provide for them at this friendly nursery. Some staff do not accurately assess where children are in their learning.

This means, that sometimes staff do not specifically plan activities to help children cons...istently build on what they already know and can do. Staff mostly engage well with children to support their communication and language development, such as reading stories and singing rhymes with them. However, sometimes the quieter children do not always receive the same level of support for their communication and language development from staff, as do their more confident peers.

Children develop their physical skills well. They hold various tools to make marks on cardboard and paper. Children develop their balancing skills on the see-saw and slide.

Staff offer gentle reminders to help children understand how to share toys and take turns. Children behave well.

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

The manager does not have good oversight of staffing arrangements and staff deployment.

During the inspection, the manager was unaware that her own paediatric first-aid qualification had expired. There were no other staff present who were qualified to provide paediatric first aid in the event of a medical emergency. This compromises children's safety.

However, the manager has rearranged future staff shifts and training to ensure this does not occur again.The manager has made significant improvements since the last inspection. She now ensures her staff understand and implement all safeguarding policies and procedures to keep children safe.

Additionally, she is supporting staff to implement an ambitious curriculum. However, due to recent staff changes this is still in its infancy. The manager provides support for staff, such as coaching and mentoring them.

She understands and values the importance of working with outside agencies to continue to embed and improve staff practice to ensure better outcomes for children.Overall, children engage well in their play and learning. Staff do not use assessment well enough to identify gaps in children's learning.

Consequently, staff at times struggle to plan and provide activities and experiences to specifically support individual children's progress and narrow any gaps in their learning.Staff are kind and caring with the children. They help children to build secure attachments with them.

Staff offer praise and encouragement which builds on children's self-esteem.Staff support children's health well. They ensure children spend plenty of time outside in the fresh air.

Staff provide children with well-balanced and nutritious snacks and meals in accordance with their individual dietary needs. Additionally, the manager ensures children are cared for in secure, clean and safe premises. Staff complete daily risk assessments of the environment and remove all hazards from children.

Overall, staff engage well with children. They listen to and respect children's choices and in particular with children who are more articulate and engage more in conversation with them. However, quieter and less confident children are not encouraged by staff to engage and interact with their peers or in group times as much.

These children miss out on developing their talking, listening and attention skills.Parents comment that they are happy with how staff have helped their child to settle into the nursery and how staff support their child's emotional development.Staff help children understand what is expected of them during daily.

For example, when children are preparing for mealtimes they understand why it is important to wash their hands to stop germs from spreading. Babies' and young children's personal needs are fully respected, and staff adhere to safer sleeping practice to keep children safe.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is 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 at least one member of staff who holds an up-to-date paediatric first-aid qualification is present at all times to supervise children 18/06/2024 ensure staff understand how to use assessments to quickly identify any gaps in children's learning 09/07/2024 ensure staff understand how to plan and provide activities and experiences that focus on what each child needs to learn next based on their stage of development, emerging needs, and interests.09/07/2024 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: help staff to recognise when to include and support the quieter children, so they are able to fully engage and develop their talking, listening and attention skills.