Early Days Nursery

Early Days Nursery 32 Reservoir Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B16 9EG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 November 2015 28 May 2015

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The provider and management team do not demonstrate a secure understanding of legal requirements. Ofsted have not been notified about a significant change to the premises or about allegations against members of staff and the management team.  Children are not adequately safeguarded. Senior staff with safeguarding responsibilities have not taken the required action following allegations about members of the team. They have not referred all concerns on to the relevant authorities or shared all relevant information. Furthermore, safeguarding records have not been suitably maintained. This means some significant information is unavailable.  The quality of teaching is not effectively monitored and has not improved significantly since the last inspection. Planned activities still do not provide sufficient challenge to engage all children.  Assessments of children's learning are not precise enough to provide an accurate

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This provision is inadequate

overview of each child's stage of development.  The management team does not demonstrate sufficient capacity to bring about improvement. They do not successfully identify or address areas of weak practice. They do not consistently follow their own policies and procedures to ensure the welfare of children.

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It has the following strengths

 Children have many opportunities to make independent choices in their play. Staff are friendly and the setting is well resourced.  Partnerships with parents are positive. Staff form good relationships with them and regularly share information to promote consistency in learning and care for children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

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Due Date

 implement safeguarding policies and procedures effectively, with particular regard to ensuring that allegations against staff (including members of the management team) are managed appropriately, including notification of full information to agencies with statutory responsibilities 27/11/2015

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Due Date

 maintain effective systems to ensure that practitioners are suitable, with specific reference to keeping a detailed record of concerns about adults working with children, and the outcome of any investigation into those concerns 27/11/2015

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Due Date

 put in place effective arrangements for the supervision of staff, that provide support, coaching and training in order to improve the quality of teaching, provide children with good quality learning experiences matched to their needs and support children to make good progress. 27/11/2015

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 improve the accuracy of assessments so that any gaps in learning are promptly identified and addressed. 18/12/2015

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  An inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery deputy manager.  The inspectors held meetings with the nursery deputy manager and provider.  The inspectors spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspectors looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding children are ineffective. Although the nursery has suitable policies and procedures in place, these are not always followed. Staff who have safeguarding responsibilities do not always take appropriate action when allegations are made about people working with children. Records of received allegations are not maintained. Important information about staffs' ongoing suitability has not been acted on and fully reported to Ofsted or the Local Safeguarding Children's Board as required. This significantly compromises children's well-being. Furthermore, the provider has not notified Ofsted of a significant change to the premises. The nursery uses the garden of an adjacent property for children's outdoor play, but had not informed Ofsted of this practice. The provider's capacity for ongoing improvement of the setting is weak. Monitoring and self-evaluation have not been used to identify and address significant breaches in

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

requirements and some weaknesses identified at the last inspection still remain. Performance management of staff has not been used effectively to identify weaknesses in teaching practice and assessment.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The quality of teaching is variable. Some staff do not promote every child's learning and active engagement during activities. Activities are not always planned well to provide children with worthwhile learning experiences. For example, staff do not know the aim of a game introduced to older children. Routine events interrupt learning. Children have to sit and wait for a long period while lunch is prepared. During group times, some staff do not promote children's listening skills and more confident children dominate the activity. This means that other children are not sufficiently engaged and their voices are not heard. Younger children enjoy looking at books and making marks. However, children's communication and thinking skills are not adequately encouraged. For example, staff do not always give children enough time to respond to questions. Staff do not use assessment effectively. They are not always aware of children's individual level of

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

achievement or what they need to do next to progress. The assessments they do make are not always an accurate reflection of children's abilities. This means that any gaps in learning are not easily identified or addressed.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Most staff hold or are working towards appropriate qualifications. They have undertaken training with regard to child protection, administering medication and providing first aid. However, weakness in safeguarding practice mean children's well-being is not always promoted effectively. All children have regular access to an outdoor play environment. They have opportunities to move around and be more active, which helps to promote their good health and physical development. Babies enjoy a play area which is safe, secure and suitable for their individual needs. Children generally play well together and they begin to understand how to share, take turns and consider each other's needs. Staff continually check the outdoor areas to ensure that any hazards are removed.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not make enough progress from their starting points. Gaps in learning are not promptly identified or addressed. Children are not well prepared for their next stage of learning, including the eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 227184 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 1016371 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 71 Name of provider Early Ventures Ltd Date of previous inspection 28 May 2015 Telephone number 0121 456 5550

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Setting details

Early Days Nursery was registered in 1991. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and three at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6.30pm. The nursery supports children who speak English as an additional language, disabled children and those with special educational needs.

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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

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Setting details

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