Sky High Achievers Blacon

Tinies @ Blacon Blacon Children's Centre, Carlisle Road, Chester, CH1 5DB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 September 2016 15 August 2013

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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

 Leaders have failed to support staff in developing the skills they need to improve the quality of their teaching. They do not have an accurate overview of the nursery’s effectiveness. Consequently, the quality of care and learning is inadequate.  The system used for observing children and tracking their progress is ineffective. Staff do not have an accurate view of what children can do. As a result, emerging concerns, such as gaps in children’s mathematical development, are not identified.  Although staff have identified through discussions with teachers at local schools that older boys are less able to write when they start in Reception. This weakness has not been sufficiently addressed. As a result, boys still have too few opportunities to develop their literacy skills.  The quality of care provided for babies is inadequate. Staff working in the baby room do not know babies’ individual needs, such as food preferences. Furthermore, babies do

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This provision is inadequate

not benefit from stimulating activities and experiences, which hinder their learning opportunities.  Children’s good health is not promoted. The nursery environment, including toys, resources and equipment are not clean and insufficient attention is given to hygiene practices.

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It has the following strengths

 Toddlers settling into the nursery receive lots of support from staff who are attentive to their needs. Consequently, they feel settled and assured.  Staff have a secure knowledge of child protection procedures, which helps to protect children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 increase awareness of how to use observation and assessment to better understand children’s level of achievement, and use this information to support the tracking processes so that any emerging gaps in children’s development, such as gaps in their mathematical development, are identified in a timely manner 10/10/2016

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Due Date

 increase opportunities for older boys to develop their skills in literacy 10/10/2016

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Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching and learning, for example, by ensuring that activities and learning experiences stimulate children and babies' curiosity and enthusiasm for learning 10/10/2016

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Due Date

 improve leadership and management by putting effective arrangements in place to support staff, for example, through coaching and training to ensure ongoing improvements with their continuous professional development 10/10/2016

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Due Date

 strengthen the key-person system so that babies are consistently cared for by a familiar adult who is able to meet their individual needs 10/10/2016

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Due Date

 promote children’s good health by ensuring that all areas of the nursery, including toys and resources, are clean and fit for purpose. 10/10/2016

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Inspection activities

 The inspection was carried out following concerns raised about the provider's ability to meet requirements of registration and provide a quality provision for all children.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children’s learning.  The inspector spoke to the managers and staff about children's progress and development.  The inspector discussed the nursery’s self-evaluation form.  The inspector spoke to parents and reviewed parents’ questionnaires.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children.  The inspector looked at a range of policy documents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Since the previous inspection, there have been a number of changes to the management team and staffing structure. These changes have resulted in a period of turbulence. As a consequence, the quality of practice and outcomes for children has significantly declined. Leaders have not been vigilant enough in identifying and addressing areas of greatest need and their self-evaluation is inaccurate. Although most staff are qualified, the quality of teaching is poor, which has a significant impact on children’s learning and development. An experienced manager has been in post for two weeks and she has quickly identified what needs to improve. The manager has a clear plan of action in place and she demonstrates a commitment to make the required improvements. Staff understand their responsibility in keeping children safe and they are aware of the procedures for reporting any concerns. Consequently, safeguarding is effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Some staff lack confidence in planning activities that meet children’s individual learning needs. As a result, children are easily distracted and, at times, they lack enthusiasm in their learning. For example, group time activities do not meet the needs of all children, which results in children becoming bored and losing interest. Babies are offered little stimulation and the staff caring for the babies do not know their individual needs. Consequently, staff are unaware of babies' interests or their next steps in learning, which hinder their progress. Staff are keen to improve their practice and they are working closely with the local authority. For example, staff have recently received training from the local authority to help them improve children’s communication and language skills. However, it is too early to assess the impact of this training. Assessments are not used well enough to monitor the progress children are making. As a result, emerging gaps in children’s

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children’s good health is not promoted. The nursery environment, including toys and resources are not maintained to an adequate standard of cleanliness. For example, the outdoor area where babies crawl is dirty and unkempt. Furthermore, the bins, which contain rotting fruit, are not emptied on a daily basis. These hazards increase the risk of cross infection. The settling-in procedures for toddlers coming into the nursery work very well. Staff work in partnership with parents to ensure smooth transitions. As a result, toddlers feel safe and secure. Children are provided with wholesome meals and snacks, which are freshly prepared on site. However, staff are not aware of babies’ stages of weaning. For example, babies who prefer finger foods are given blended meals, which is not appropriate for their stage of development.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children are making insufficient progress in their mathematical development and this gap has gone unnoticed. Leaders have also failed to address identified weaknesses in relation to supporting boys’ literacy. Although funding has been used to purchase a water wall and large paint equipment to support literacy for older boys, the impact of this funding is not evident. As a result, boys continue to have too few opportunities to develop their literacy skills. Overall, leaders have failed to identify gaps in children’s learning and development and outcomes for children are inadequate.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY456012 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 1073646 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 96 Name of registered person Tinies Childcare North West Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 August 2013 Telephone number 01244976085

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reference number

Tinies@Blacon was registered in 2012. The nursery is open for 51 weeks of the year from 8am to 6pm. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff, including the manager. Of these, 10 hold an appropriate early years qualifications. One member of staff is a qualified early years teacher. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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