Little Saplings Childcare Centres - Yew Tree

Inspection of Little Saplings Childcare Centres - Yew Tree The Bungalow, Yew Tree & Tamebridge Community Centre, Redwood Road, Walsall, Sandwell WS5 4LB

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children gain a broad range of useful skills and knowledge that prepare them well for school. They gain confidence and develop good levels of concentration. Staff carefully consider each child's starting points. This includes knowing how COVID-19 (coronavirus) has changed the experiences children have and how to adapt their teaching accordingly. They plan learning experiences that help children to build on what they know and can do. Younger children learn how to play with others and begin to build friendships. Staff help them to develop their independence, such as going to the toilet and using cutlery to feed themselves. Older children extend their mathematical and literacy understanding. This includes reading and writing their names, and talking about shapes. Children play happily with their friends and learn how to manage their feelings and behaviour. They are creative and use their imaginations as they play. Younger children recreate familiar roles and experiences.

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The provision is good

They pretend they are builders, make a wall and know how to use tools, such as a hammer and saw. Older children use building blocks and talk about what they have made. They experiment as they paint and learn how to make new colours. Although parents do not enter the nursery because of COVID-19 risk assessments, staff make every effort to talk with them about their children.

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need to do better?

n The manager effectively reviews the service they provide to identify areas for further development. She works with staff to make changes to how they organise the setting based on the needs of children. The manager regularly checks the quality of teaching and children's learning. She helps staff to extend their knowledge of how young children learn. Recent training has helped staff to think about the different ways that children like to play and learn, and how to plan for these. n The manager and staff work closely with parents. Staff talk at length to parents about their children when they first start. This helps staff to gather detailed information about children's needs and interests. They regularly talk to parents to exchange information about children's achievements at home and in the nursery. Staff give parents useful ideas to support children's learning at home. The manager knows how COVID-19 has affected families of children who attend

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need to do better?

the nursery and has supported them well during this difficult time. Parents are grateful for the resources that the manager gave them to use with their children at home while the nursery was closed. The manager carefully considers the needs of each child, to ensure that funding is used to good effect. n Teaching is good. Staff know about children's individual learning needs and use this information to plan well for them. Staff know how to break down the knowledge children need to have to learn and successfully support children at different stages of their development. They accurately monitor the progress that

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need to do better?

19 May 2021 children make and identify any gaps in their learning. They work with other professionals to plan targeted learning experiences to help children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities to make good progress. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language development well. Older children confidently join in with conversations, listen to what others say and offer their own ideas. Younger children join in with songs and rhymes and know how the actions link to words. They learn the meaning of words such as 'short' and 'long' to describe the difference between toy animal tails. However, staff do not recognise some occasions when the words they use do not offer two-year-old children the highest level of challenge. n Staff have increased opportunities for children to be more physically active and to develop muscle strength. This is because they know that children have had

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need to do better?

less outdoor play experiences because of COVID-19. They give children equipment to use to help them to build their strength. Children enjoy using their leg muscles to travel on bouncing equipment. They carefully balance along a beam and jump off equipment. However, staff overlook some opportunities to help children to risk assess their play and challenge them to be more adventurous. n Staff support children's health well and follow good hygiene routines. Children know how to help stop the spread of germs, such as through regular handwashing. Children know that exercise is good for them and talk about how they are sweaty after physical activity outdoors.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff make thorough risk assessment of the areas used by children, to ensure they can play safely. This includes the outdoor area where building work is taking place. The manager and staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding children. They know how to recognise signs that a child might be at risk of harm and neglect. The manager and staff understand the procedures for reporting any concerns they might have. This includes reporting concerns about a member of staff. The manager makes thorough checks when she recruits new staff, to ensure they are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n identify ways to extend even further the language staff use with children in the two-year-old room n increase opportunities for children to assess risks, to help them to engage in more adventurous play outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY548662 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 10133721 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Little Saplings Childcare Centres Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01922 907992 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Saplings Childcare Centres - Yew Tree registered in 2017. The setting employs eight members of childcare staff, of these five hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3. The setting opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. The inspector observed teaching practices and considered the impact these have on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with the leaders, staff, children and parents. n The inspector sampled some of the setting's documentation, including the safeguarding policy and procedures.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

19 May 2021 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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