AppleKids Day Nursery

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Apple Kids Day Nursery 1 Showell Green Lane Sparkhill Birmingham B11 4NP Our Reference EY468993

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Esther Gray, monitored your provision on 01/04/2014 following your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of our inspection on 22/01/2014, we sent you a welfare requirements notice. The actions you were set are included at the end of this letter.

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Outcome of monitoring

To improve the quality of education and care for children you were required to: ensure that practitioners, and any other person who is likely to have regular contact with children, are suitable; in particular ensure robust recruitment procedures are followed by obtaining suitable references for all staff, ensure that the premises, including outdoor spaces are fit for purpose; for example in ensuring that children are not at risk from hot radiators, pieces of glass, metal gate hooks and a metal stake, damaged fencing, building rubble, litter, uneven flooring in the preschool room and water damage caused by a leak on the first floor, take appropriate steps to promote the good health of children and prevent the spread of infection; for instance in ensuring soiled nappies are disposed of hygienically, that children cannot access toilet brushes and toys are maintained and used in a hygienic manner, take

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Outcome of monitoring

appropriate steps to promote the good health of children and prevent the spread of infection; for instance in ensuring soiled nappies are disposed of hygienically, that children cannot access toilet brushes and toys are maintained and used in a hygienic manner, take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others on the premises in the case of fire; this specifically refers to ensuring that smoke detectors are regularly checked and appropriately maintained and everyone is clear and confident about the nursery's emergency evacuation procedures.

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Outcome of monitoring

In addition to these actions, we issued a notice to improve which required you to: ensure the safe and efficient management of the setting by making details of the nursery's policies and procedures available to all adults working in the nursery and parents and/or carers, improve children's independence and the quality of teaching Our Reference EY468993

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Outcome of monitoring

across the areas of learning by; making sure that children have easy access to a wide range of stimulating resources which are relevant to their needs and interests, and effectively support their play and improve the way that children's learning outdoors is planned and provided for; this specifically refers to ensuring that children have access to a good range of resources and experiences outdoors that encourage them to explore, investigate and discover nature.

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Outcome of monitoring

A number of actions were also repeated to reflect those aspects of the General Childcare Register which required improvement.

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Outcome of monitoring

During a monitoring visit carried out on 1 April 2014 it was found that prompt and effective action had been taken, to ensure all staff files were updated to reflect how suitability checks had been completed and the identity of staff checked. Procedures are in place to ensure that references are collected and sufficient information verified to provide proper explanations for any gaps in the candidate’s employment. Supervision arrangements are advancing, which include checks on the practitioner’s on-going suitability and performance. The manager has also carried out some observations of the quality of the work of staff. This has revealed where training needs may be identified but has also identified weakness within the organisation of the routines of the day.

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Outcome of monitoring

During this monitoring visit the inspector toured the premises and viewed all areas, both inside and outside, that children access. It was found that the spaces used by staff to develop learning environments had not been well thought out. Action has been taken to identify and remove all risks to children's health and well-being. However, the risk assessment process has not ensured that all equipment is checked to ensure it is height and weight appropriate or being used or assembled in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. There has been a rehearsal of the emergency evacuation of the building which is documented and shown to have taken place successfully. This was carried out to ensure staff and children are familiar with this emergency routine. Sufficient prompt and effective action has been taken to demonstrate that all aspects of the environment are being checked on a daily basis to assure children's safety and well-being.

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Outcome of monitoring

Policies have been revised and copies given to parents were necessary. For instance parents are informed of the mobile phone policy use within the building. Some steps are taking shape with the support of the Local Authority support workers in developing staff practice with the aid of the observation and supervision models being introduced. The lack of proper planning for each session prior to the start of the session sometimes causes children to sit too long in holding activities whilst another activity is organised. There remains little of interest in the outdoor area although there are plans in place to develop this area of the nursery to spark children’s interest in the natural world. Although prompt and effective action has been taken to initiate the improvement a further monitoring visit will consider the sustainability of the steps taken and review the aspects of the Learning and Development requirements where insufficient steps have secured the necessary

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Outcome of monitoring

improvement in the learning programmes for children. Our Reference EY468993

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the setting has taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement.

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Next steps

The next step will be further monitoring.

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Next steps

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your setting. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Nick Hudson National Director, Early Education Our Reference EY468993

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure the safe and efficient management of the setting by making details of the nursery's policies and procedures available to all adults working in the nursery and parents and/or carers. 17/03/2014 01/04/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve children's independence and the quality of teaching across the areas of learning by; making sure that children have easy access to a wide range of stimulating resources which are relevant to their needs and interests, and effectively support their play 17/03/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the way that children's learning outdoors is planned and provided for; this specifically refers to ensuring that children have access to a good range of resources and experiences outdoors that encourage them to explore, investigate and discover nature. 17/03/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that any person caring for children it suitable to work with children, has the skills and experience suitable for the work and is physically and mentally fit for the work (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 17/03/2014 01/04/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that the premises and equipment used for the purposes of the childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare (compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 17/03/2014 01/04/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

make copies of the written safeguarding procedures and complaints procedures available to parents (compulsory part of the Childcare Register). 17/03/2014 01/04/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks; this specifically relates to ensuring staff follow hygienic practices, appropriate fire safety precautions are in place and risk assessment is effective and undertaken immediately when the need arises (compulsory part of the Childcare 17/03/2014 01/04/2014 Our Reference EY468993

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