Unicorn Day Nursery

Unicorn Nursery - Princes End 131 High Street, Princes End, TIPTON, West Midlands, DY4 9JE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 January 2016 18 June 2013

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 A strong management team has been established since the last inspection and vast improvements have been made to the provision. The management team is supported well by committed staff who ensure that each child is well cared for, happy and safe.  Staff provide a wide range of activities and resources that promote all areas of children's learning and development.  Staff have formed strong partnerships with parents and keep them well informed about the progress their child is making. Parents are fully involved in their child's learning and development and are very complementary about the service provided.  Disabled children and those with special educational needs are supported well through the strong partnerships established with external agencies.  Children are happy and settled. They have good relationships with staff. This helps to promote their well-being and develop their confidence and independence.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always adjust their teaching accordingly when working with groups of children of mixed ages and abilities.  Staff have not fully established a regular exchange of information with other settings that children attend. As a result, they are not always able to build effectively on the learning that takes place elsewhere.

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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

 make sure the teaching during group activities always takes into account the different ages and stages of development of the children taking part  develop a more effective strategy to promote two-way communication with staff at other early years settings children attend.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities inside and outside.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to the management team, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's learning journey progress records, the planning documentation, evidence of self-evaluation and a range of other documentation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The provider and staff work hard to reflect on every aspect of the provision for children's welfare, learning and development. Staff access support from a network of professionals, including local authority advisors. This has helped highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the nursery. As a result, their priorities for improvement are well targeted to bring about sustained improvement. The quality of the provision has been enhanced. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe. Most staff are qualified and the provider ensures they attend regular training to enhance their professional development further. Children's progress is monitored well. Staff use effective observation, assessment and planning systems to help children achieve their next steps in learning. Any gaps in learning are swiftly identified and addressed.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know children's characteristics and abilities well. They create an inviting, reassuring environment for all children's learning. Staff in the baby room give babies a secure base from which they can explore. They provide them with a range of sensory activities. Staff use props and pictures to engage children in songs and rhymes. Babies investigate and discover different textures as they play in sand and water. Staff provide a variety of materials to help develop early writing skills. Children thoroughly enjoy making marks and pictures using paint and pens. Staff working with older children place a strong focus on helping them to learn about numbers and letter sounds. They encourage children to count, measure and identify letters during everyday activities. For example, staff encourage them to clap as they count how many children are in nursery. Staff use simple sign language to help children develop early communication skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff create a warm and welcoming environment for children. Children's behaviour is good as staff support them well to understand the nursery rules and routines. They learn to play cooperatively, share and take turns. They enjoy taking on small responsibilities, such as helping to tidy away the toys at the end of the session. A dedicated nursery cook provides children with a variety of nutritious snacks and meals. Staff sit with older children to eat their lunchtime meal. They use this time effectively to encourage children to talk about healthy food and drinks. Children confidently name a range of vegetables when staff ask them to name some healthy foods. In the outdoor play area, children have plenty of opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They learn to balance on bicycles and to build using blocks and large foam shapes.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in all areas of their learning and development. Targeted support is provided for children who join the setting with starting points below those expected for their age. As a result, any gaps in learning are closing and most children leave the setting working within their typical age range. Children are well prepared for their future learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY457677 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 1028471 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 60 Name of provider Unicorn Nursery (Princes End) Limited Date of previous inspection 18 June 2013 Telephone number 0121 557 0011

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Setting details

Unicorn Nursery - Princes End was registered in 2012. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. One member of staff and the owner hold Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for the week between Christmas and New Year and bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports 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

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

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