Upton Crickets Day Nursery Ltd

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Staff make sure children are safe and happy at this nursery. They provide a range of activities and experiences to encourage children to explore and try new skills. However, some members of staff have not had enough coaching to help them understand how to follow the manager's expectations, or how to implement an effective curriculum for all children.

Additionally, staff interaction and engagement with children does not consistently support children with what they intend children to learn. Therefore, children are not being supported by staff to help them learn as much as they can. Sometimes children are not fully engaged in the act...ivities.

Nevertheless, staff help children build on their communication and language skills. For example, during a craft activity staff help younger children to pronounce words clearly and extend their range of vocabulary. Children repeat words such as, squeeze and yellow.

Staff help older children build on their imaginative skills. They provide resources, such as water, tea bags, cups and a large tea pot. Children encourage visitors to try their range of pretend tea flavours.

They concentrate well as they carefully pour out the mixture from the large tea pot saying, 'Try my cherry flavour.' Children play cooperatively as they seek out items together and decide which cars to put in boxes as Christmas presents.

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

The new manager/owner has addressed the actions raised at their previous inspection.

She has supported staff to gain a greater understanding of child protection practice. Staff also now know how to ensure risk assessments are conducted effectively to keep children safe in the environment.The manager has a positive approach to her role and has driven improvement overall since being in her new role.

She supports her staff well. They comment that they value her style of management, which enthuses them in their professional development. However, coaching, support and staff supervision are still in it their infancy.

Consequently, all staff are not yet confident in their understanding of the vision for children's learning that the manager has.The manager has a clear understanding of what she wants children to learn and how she wants the curriculum to be delivered by her staff team. However, staff do not follow through the intended learning for children, or engage and interact with the children consistently.

Consequently, children do not learn as much as possible. For example, as younger children prepare to go outside, staff put on their coats and boots for them. They do not help the children to build on their independence and self-care skills.

Staff also do not verbally engage or interact with the children much. The activity then becomes more of a task with a supervisory role for staff, compared to the intended learning expected by the manager.Staff help to raise children's self-esteem and confidence.

They provide clear messages of what is expected of children's behaviour. Staff praise children on their achievements and good behaviour. Children spontaneously say 'please' and 'thank you' during their play.

Partnership with parents is positive. Parents state that they have seen a change in communication between themselves and the staff team. They comment how well information is now shared and exchanged between them to help to support their child's learning and development.

They also comment on how supportive and flexible staff are to meet the needs of their children.Staff make sure the health and well-being of children is promoted. They plan outside play, for children to participate in various activities and experiences.

For example, older children excitedly talk about how wet they got from jumping in puddles. Younger children explore with compost and water. They talk about making a pancake.

Staff who work with younger children provide some activities to help them to develop their small muscle skills. They encourage children to fill and empty containers with dried rice. Children spend time concentrating as they use their hands and spoons to fill up containers and them tip all of the rice out.

Children repeat this exercise to build on this skill.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager is clear on her role as designated safeguarding lead and how to ensure all staff are secure in their knowledge of child protection procedures.

All staff including the manager have recently completed child protection training to keep their knowledge of safeguarding practice up to date. They know how to identify the signs of abuse and how to report safeguarding concerns to relevant agencies. Staff deployment is well organised so that children are supervised effectively.

They complete daily risk assessments of the environment to make sure any identified hazards are removed quickly. Children play in a secure and safe environment.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date ensure that ongoing coaching and support for staff is well-embedded into practice to build further on their skills and knowledge 09/01/2024 ensure all staff understand how to consistently deliver and implement a clear and ambitious curriculum to support all children's ongoing learning and development 09/01/2024 ensure staff interactions consistently help children to build further on their skills.

09/01/2024