Funtrain Day Nursery

Fun Train Day Nursery 9 and 9A Hamilton Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 6DL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 August 2015 11 October 2010

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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 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

 Recruitment is not sufficiently robust. Records to demonstrate that staff have been thoroughly vetted are not consistently in place. Induction is weak. As a result, some newer staff are unclear about how they would refer any safeguarding concerns should they arise, and routine procedures are not always adhered to.  The outside play area can be easily accessed by the public from the public car park. This poses a potential risk to children's safety when they play outdoors. Staff do not routinely assess any possible risks when they take children on outings.  Children do not make good progress because planned activities do not take account of their individual next steps for learning. Consequently, planned activities lack sufficient challenge for some children.  Some staff are unclear about how to assess children's progress in some areas of learning. The observations they make of children's learning are not evaluated. This

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This provision is inadequate

means that assessment of children's learning is poor.  The quality of teaching varies across the nursery. Staff are not supported effectively to improve their teaching skills. Methods to monitor staff's practice and children's progress have not yet been fully implemented by the managers.

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It has the following strengths

 Children enjoy warm, affectionate relationships with staff. New children settle well because staff are sensitive to their needs and provide reassurance. Pre-school children are well prepared for the move to school.  Children's behaviour is good because staff provide emotional support, helping them to feel secure and develop confidence.

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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

 ensure that recruitment records for all staff are available to prove that appropriate suitability checks, such as references are in place and a robust recruitment process is followed  secure the outdoor play area to ensure that the public cannot gain access through the gate from the public car park  ensure that induction procedures are effective, so that should staff have concerns about children's welfare, they have a robust knowledge of how to refer any safeguarding concerns  ensure that staff follow existing nursery procedures for assessing potential risks when taking children on outings  improve observation and assessment of children's learning by; identifying each child's next steps for learning, planning specific activities to address any gaps found and accurately assessing their progress towards the early learning goals  develop methods to monitor the quality of staff's practice, in order to ensure that

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

children are sufficiently challenged through effective teaching and staff have a robust understanding of all areas of learning.

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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 staff have training on the procedures to follow to safeguard children from abuse and neglect (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  take all necessary measures to minimise any risks to the health or safety of children (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that no one can enter the premises without the knowledge of a person who is caring for children on the premises (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  take all necessary measures to minimise any risks to the health or safety of children (voluntary part of the Childcare Register)  ensure that no one can enter the premises without the knowledge of a person who is caring for children on the premises (voluntary part of the Childcare Register).

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including planning, observation and assessment records. She also looked at a range of health and safety documentation and information used to evidence the suitability of staff and first-aid qualifications.  The inspector observed activities and care practices in the playrooms and within the outside play area.  The inspector spoke with children and staff. She also held a meeting with the manager and a senior member of staff.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and carers spoken to during the inspection.

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who attend. This is inadequate

While parents provide information about their children's developmental starting points, staff do not use this purposefully. Children's learning is not regularly assessed and the observations they make are not used effectively. This means that staff do not identify the next steps in children's learning, so do not plan activities specifically to address them. Consequently, children do not make the good progress that they should. Planning across the nursery is theme based. Interesting topics are planned to complement the seasons. However, because planning is not specific to individual children's needs, activities lack sufficient challenge. For example, older children, already confident in counting, take part in activities where the main focus is counting to three. Staff do not extend their learning by teasing out their understanding of additional mathematical concepts, such as simple addition. In addition, some staff lack a robust knowledge of the areas of learning.

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who attend. This is inadequate

However, staff encourage children's developing communication in a variety of ways. Teachers come to visit pre-school children to introduce themselves in preparation for starting school, helping them to adjust to the changes ahead.

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inadequate

Children's safety and well-being are not fully assured. The outdoor play area is not secure as the gate can be opened from the side that backs onto the public car park. While the bolt is too high for children to reach, members of the public could easily gain access to the play area. In addition, when children are taken on outings, risk assessments are not consistently completed and records to prove the suitability of staff are not always in place. However, other aspects of children's well-being are sound. Children have access to drinking water, healthy meals and snacks and a permanent soft-play area. Children enjoy jumping and balancing on the soft-play equipment, helping them to develop their physical skills. Children are beginning to develop their independence skills in preparation for moving on to school. They confidently use the toilet by themselves and remember to wash their hands afterwards. Children of all ages demonstrate they feel secure when they

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inadequate

approach visitors with a friendly smile or to ask a question. Staff cuddle babies and toddlers and playfully interact with them, causing them to squeal with delight. Consequently, the nursery appears calm and children are happily engaged in play.

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provision is inadequate

There are a number of breaches to the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage due to a lack of robust monitoring by the co-providers who manage the nursery. Plans to monitor the assessment of children's progress are not yet in place and existing procedures are not rigorously applied. For example, the assessment of risk for children's outings is inconsistent, records to prove the suitability of staff, such as references are not always in place and the induction for new staff is weak. This means that some newer staff do not fully understand how to refer children should they have concerns for their welfare and they are not fully protected from possible harm. The majority of staff are well qualified. The longer serving staff regularly update their safeguarding knowledge through ongoing training. However, staff are not encouraged to improve their teaching skills because new methods to develop their practice are in their infancy. Consequently, some staff are less

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provision is inadequate

effective in extending children's learning. Partnerships with parents are friendly and supportive. Parents say staff exchange information with them verbally everyday. Managers and staff discuss ideas for development and parents contribute their views by completing questionnaires. Managers readily acknowledge the weaknesses identified at inspection and show a determination to put plans swiftly into action, in order to drive the required improvements.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY310371 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 862023 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 74 Name of provider Fun Train Day Nursery Date of previous inspection 11 October 2010 Telephone number 0151 647 0482

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Setting details

Fun Train Day Nursery was registered in 2005. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. 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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