The Learning Tree Derby Ltd

Best Start at Sinfin SINFIN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S CENTRE, 345 Sinfin Lane, Derby, DE24 9SF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 June 2015 23 January 2014

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

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

 The quality of teaching is poor. Some staff do not understand how children learn and spend insufficient time with individual children, focusing primarily on group activities.  Planning and assessment for children's development are weak. Staff do not routinely obtain information about children's starting points and do not always identify next steps for their learning. Assessment of learning is not consistently completed for all children.  The quality of spoken English used by some staff does not support children to learn and reach a good standard of English language.  Children's behaviour is not well managed by all staff. Staff do not follow through with strategies for managing unwanted behaviour and children are not taught how to manage their own feelings and emotions.

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It has the following strengths

 The new manager has a good understanding of the weaknesses within the nursery and recognises what needs to improve to ensure children access a high quality learning environment.  Staff understand how to protect the children in their care. Good policies and procedures are in place to help support them in their work.  Children have good relationships with staff and settle well into the nursery.

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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

 develop planning so that it takes into account children's individual next steps to ensure that children make good progress towards the early learning goals  ensure staff use properly constructed sentences when speaking so that children have opportunities to learn and reach a good standard of spoken English  ensure initial and ongoing assessments are completed for all children and that staff use them effectively to plan challenging and interesting learning activities  ensure staff undertake appropriate training to improve the quality of teaching so they are able to offer quality learning experiences for children  ensure children’s behaviour is managed in a consistent way so that they understand what is expected of them and they develop ways to manage their emotions.

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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

 take steps to ensure that staff develop appropriate strategies to manage children's behaviour (compulsory Childcare Register).  take steps to ensure that staff develop appropriate strategies to manage children's behaviour (voluntary Childcare Register).

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation, evidence of suitability of staff working in the provision and a range of other documentation including policies and procedures.

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who attend. This is inadequate

The quality of teaching is too variable across the staff team. Some staff have a poor understanding of how children learn and are unclear on what their role is in developing children's abilities and skills. Too much emphasis is placed on routines of the day and insufficient emphasis placed on teaching. Staff do not plan well enough to ensure that all areas of learning are covered in enough depth and breadth. Children's starting points and next steps in learning are not always assessed by staff. As a result, children’s progress is not consistently reported on and it is unclear what progress some children are making. There is too much focus on group activities and staff frequently miss opportunities to engage children in small group or one to one situations. Therefore, children's individual learning needs are rarely addressed. Staff quickly move from one activity to another and do not always recognise where children need additional support, or when learning

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who attend. This is inadequate

opportunities present themselves. For example, a child was supported to put on an apron and then left to play in the water tray on their own. Staff paid no attention to what the child was doing and made no attempt to engage them in any way. The quality of spoken English used by some staff does not ensure that children understand what is being said to them. Staff rarely check children have understood them. As a result, children get bored and move away from adult led activities, such as circle time when children quickly lost interest in singing the adult's choice of songs. Outdoor play is promoted well within the nursery. Staff join in games and activities and encourage children to have a go and try new things.

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inadequate

The environment is not always used effectively. Staff routinely close off one room and children are unable to access the activities in this area without asking. Although there is a wide variety of toys and equipment for children to use, the lack of adult support at activities means children do not develop the concentration skills they need for when they start school. Children have good relationships with staff and settle well into the nursery. Staff support children to develop independence skills, and they are encouraged to pour out their own drinks at snack time. Parents are positive about the care and education provided for their child and feel they are kept informed about what is happening at the nursery. Staff do not always recognise the needs of children who speak English as an additional language. For example, staff repeatedly told a child to sit down and listen when it was clear the child did not understand what they had been asked to do. Children's

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inadequate

behaviour is not consistently managed; some staff do not follow through with the rewards and consequences they have started to use with children. As a result, children do not gain an understanding of what is expected of them and they are not supported to learn how to deal with their own emotions.

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provision is inadequate

Monitoring of the nursery provision by senior management and the induction of new staff is not good enough. Leadership and management are inadequate because there are breaches in the legal requirements which significantly impact on children's well-being and learning. The new manager has started to evaluate the provision and recognises there are significant weakness in how staff plan for children's development and the teaching methods used by some of the staff team. However, there has not been sufficient time to make changes to the routine, or to the teaching and assessment of children’s learning. As a result, children's individual needs are not considered sufficiently and the learning environment is not of a high enough quality to ensure children make rapid progress. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of safeguarding and know what they need to do if they have any concerns. Although some in-house training has been provided, this has not

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provision is inadequate

focused on improving the quality of planning, teaching and assessment. As a result, children do not experience well planned or challenging activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY467568 Local authority Derby, City of Inspection number 1014328 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 38 Name of provider Best Start Childcare Ltd Date of previous inspection 23 January 2014 Telephone number 07841911628

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Setting details

Best Start at Sinfin Nursery was registered in 2013. It operates from Sinfin Children and Young People's Centre, Sinfin, Derby and is one of three settings owned by Best Start Childcare Limited. The nursery employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, one has Early Years Teacher Status, one has a level 4 qualification in Early Childhood and Education and one member of staff has a level 2 childcare qualification. The nursery opens Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9am until 3.00pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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