Bluebird Kindergarten

Bluebird Kindergarten & Nursery Elm Hall Drive, Liverpool, Merseyside, L18 1LF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 May 2015 21 March 2012

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Requires improvement The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is inadequate

 Risk assessment for the outdoor area is not thorough enough, to ensure that potential risks are identified and minimised to fully promote children's safety.  The provider has failed to notify Ofsted of changes to the hours during which childcare is provided.  Some staff do not make the best use of a range of teaching methods, which prevents younger children from extending their critical-thinking skills. As a result, the quality of teaching is variable.  Staff supervision lacks focus on reviewing staff performance. At times, this has an impact on the quality of teaching and the ability to fully improve staff practice and identify additional support and training that may be needed.

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It has the following strengths

 Children behave well. This is because staff encourage them to share resources during play. They remind children to be kind to each other and give clear guidance for acceptable behaviour.  Children are happy and settled because they are cared for by very kind and caring staff. As a result, children are emotionally secure, confident and most are motivated to learn.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are kept well informed of their children's day, and are able to play an active role in their children's learning and development.  Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well. This is because there are pictures, dual-language labels and resources reflecting a variety of cultural backgrounds.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 improve the quality of teaching by using a range of teaching methods, for example, by providing sufficient time for younger children to think before answering questions, in order to fully develop their critical-thinking skills and extend their learning  improve the risk assessment of the outdoor area to ensure the security of the premises and potential hazards are identified, minimised and managed, for example, by locking gates while children are playing outdoors and removing sharp metal on the railings, so children's safety is assured at all times.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure that staff supervision arrangements provide more focus on supporting staff practice to consistently improve in all areas, and to successfully raise the quality of teaching, in order to help children make the best possible progress.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 ensure that all necessary measures are in place to minimise any risk to the health and safety of the children in their care, with particular regard to the outdoor gates and railings (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that all necessary measures are in place to minimise any risk to the health and safety of the children in their care, with particular regard to the outdoor gates and railings (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at the children's assessment records and planning documentation.  The inspector spoke to the staff and children, and observed play and learning activities within all rooms.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day, and parents' comments from questionnaires.  The inspector checked the evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with children and the provider's improvement plan.  The inspector carried out a tour of the premises.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of staff practice and had a meeting with the manager.

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who attend. This requires improvement

Staff have a sufficient knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Observation and assessment systems are in place and staff track children's progress. Children move freely around the nursery, making independent choices in their play. They have access to a wide range of toys and resources, and are provided with experiences to promote all areas of learning and development. For example, children make bread and enjoy growing and digging. Older children participate in group conversations and extend their knowledge of other languages, such as French. They are encouraged to listen to other children and wait their turn to speak. As a result, this provides children with the skills they need for their future learning and in readiness for school. However, younger children are not supported as well. This is because, on occasions, staff pose too many questions and children are not always

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who attend. This requires improvement

given sufficient time to think about their responses. This gives younger children fewer opportunities to put their thoughts into words and develop their own ideas. Consequently, the quality of teaching across the nursery is variable.

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inadequate

Staff cannot demonstrate that they have taken appropriate action to fully promote the safety and welfare of children in their care. This is because all risks and hazards have not been identified in the outdoor area. For example, the gates are not securely locked while children play, to prevent them escaping and unauthorised people gaining access. In addition, sharp edges on the railings have not been identified in the nursery risk assessment. As a result, children's well-being and safety are compromised. Staff encourage and praise children when they do something well, which raises their self- esteem. Staff promote children's physical skills, as children move their bodies to music and climb on large activity frames. Staff currently share information with other early years settings that children attend, using 'shared communication books'. Therefore, support for children's continuity of care and learning is maximised. Children's self-help skills are

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inadequate

supported well throughout the day. Children independently wash their hands before meals, prepare and serve snack and are encouraged to put on their own coats and jumpers.

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provision is inadequate

Managers and staff have failed to identify potential hazards that could cause significant harm to children. As a result, children are not safeguarded at all times. Furthermore, managers have failed to notify Ofsted of changes to the hours during which childcare is provided. Staff are experienced and the manager is trained as a Montessori teacher. As a result, children enjoy a variety of purposeful activities. The manager conducts regular supervisions. However, these are not sufficiently focused to ensure that the quality of teaching is consistently good throughout the whole team. Furthermore, although staff are qualified and attend additional training courses, they do not address the specific areas of support needed. This means children do not make the best possible progress. The manager and her staff regularly evaluate the service they deliver. They take on board the views of parents and children. Regular team meetings take place and they discuss areas

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provision is inadequate

for improvement and future developments. For example, the manager has recently assessed wall displays. As a result, they are now more appealing to children and are at a level for them to see and relate to in their play. The manager has established links with other professionals, such as the local authority support worker and health professionals, to gain additional support for children who require it.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 322378 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 868779 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 55 Name of provider Sheila Carmichael and Joanne Carmichael Partnership Date of previous inspection 21 March 2012 Telephone number 0151 728 8627

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Setting details

Bluebird Kindergarten and Nursery was registered in 1997. It opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8.30am until 4pm. The nursery employs eight members of staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, two at level 2 and one with an early years degree. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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