Little Academy Nursery

Little Academy Nursery Tipton Sports Academy, Wednesbury Oak Road, TIPTON, West Midlands, DY4 0BS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 June 2017 29 June 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 Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 Children's welfare is compromised. The provider, who is also a manager, does not ensure that all staff understand the safeguarding policy and procedures.  The provider does not ensure that there is always one member of staff who has a current paediatric first-aid certificate on site at all times. This puts children at risk.  Self-evaluation is not effective. The provider has failed to identify breaches in requirements and target improvements to keep children safe.  At times, staff working with older children lead their learning too much and do not give them enough time to play and explore at their own pace.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff challenge children in their learning well. For example, they are skilled in their use of questions to help extend children's understanding.  Children make good progress in their learning and development. They are well prepared for their future learning, including the move to school. Children develop good literacy skills. Babies are keen to share books with staff and older children learn to write their names.  Staff make accurate assessments of children's progress and plan for their next steps in learning well. They use children's interests to provide engaging activities that encourage them to explore and investigate.

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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

 improve staff knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures, including signs that children may be at risk from extreme views and behaviours 22/07/2017

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Due Date

 ensure at least one person who holds a paediatric first-aid certificate is on the premises and available at all times. 31/07/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 make effective use of self-evaluation to identify breaches in requirements and target areas for improvement to improve the quality of provision for children and keep them safe  give children more opportunities to lead their own play and explore ideas for themselves.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed teaching practices and the impact these have on children's learning.  The inspector held discussions with the managers, staff, children and parents.  The inspector read some of the setting's documentation, including the safeguarding policy and procedures.  The inspector sampled children's development information and records.  The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. The provider has not updated the safeguarding policy or reviewed this with staff so they have a clear understanding of current practice and procedures. The deputy manager does not have a good enough knowledge of what the safeguarding policy contains and was unable to locate the correct document for the inspector to view. Although staff are aware of the signs that a child may be at risk of harm, not all staff have a clear understanding of the correct process to follow should they have concerns about a child's well-being. The provider does not ensure that staff are aware of all aspects of protecting children, including those who may be at risk from extreme views and behaviours. The provider does not ensure that at least one person who has a current paediatric first-aid certificate is on the premises at all times. The provider has provided some training for staff, such as opportunities for them to reflect on

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

behaviour management. However, she has not reviewed the provision accurately or considered the views of parents, staff and children to target areas for further improvement. Partnerships with parents and other providers help to provide continuity in children's learning and development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a secure understanding of how to help young children learn. Staff working with babies provide fun activities that encourage them to investigate and explore. Babies are keen to join in with water and bubble play and staff plan a wide range of sensory activities, such as painting with spaghetti to further enhance their enjoyment. Staff support children's communication and language skills well. For instance, they listen carefully to children and introduce new vocabulary as they play. Staff help children to develop their understanding of the world successfully. Children learn concepts, such as floating and sinking and observe changes as ice cubes melt. Staff monitor children's progress closely to ensure that any gaps in learning are swiftly addressed.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The weaknesses in safeguarding mean that the children's safety and welfare cannot be assured. That said, staff are friendly and nurturing and the key-person system helps children to form close bonds with them and settle quickly. Staff encourage children to be independent. Babies lift their arms to help with dressing and older children pour drinks and are involved in tasks, such as preparing their own healthy wraps at lunchtime. Children behave well and develop their social skills. Staff use effective methods to encourage children to listen to and respect each other. Children play together well, learn to share their toys and resolve any conflicts.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident, motivated to learn and focus well. They make good progress with their mathematical understanding as they learn to count, recognise numbers and begin to solve simple calculations. Children are good communicators. Babies practise their sounds and use new words confidently and older children explain their ideas clearly. Children enjoy the many opportunities to be physically active, such as competing in obstacle races and playing ball games together.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY366156 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 1093278 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 - 4 Total number of places 13 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person Elaine Willan

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 June 2015 Telephone number 01215673334

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reference number

Little Academy Nursery registered in 2008. The nursery operates within the grounds of Tipton Sports Academy, Tipton West Midlands. The nursery opens Monday to Thursday, from 7.45am to 6pm and Friday from 7.45am to 5.30 pm, all year round except for bank holidays. The nursery employs seven staff. Of these, four hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3 and one at level 2. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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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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