Kensington House Day Nursery

Inspection of Kensington House Day Nursery Kensington House, 33 Dove Bank, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 8DY

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive at the setting and are greeted by staff at the door who they are familiar with. Staff are warm and attentive to their needs. Once in their rooms, older children have opportunities to explore and play in an environment that generally supports their learning needs. They can freely access a wide range of resources, which satisfy their curiosity and thirst for learning. Free flow to the outdoor area allows children access to activities that support their skills and test their abilities. Children practise the use of their fine-motor skills by squeezing water up and down pipettes into bottles, and their pouring skills by using seashells to scoop up water. Staff support children well to develop their physical skills. Children take turns, persevere and keep going as they walk and balance over wooden planks arranged over a pathway of tyres. However, the learning environment is not consistent for the youngest children and they are not as well supported. There is a

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The provision requires improvement

lack of planned purposeful activities for the babies inside. As a result, they become unsettled and fractious.

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need to do better?

n Arrangements are in place for staff to complete risk assessments to ensure the premises are safe and suitable. However, they are not as effective as they could be because staff do not always inform management in a timely manner of issues that need attention. In addition, senior management are not always swift to take action when issues have been brought to their attention. The assessments have identified risks that may not significantly impact on children's safety but need to be addressed and have not been. There is a broken light in the bathroom and the carpet in the corridor is yet to be replaced after it was removed due to a recent flood. As a consequence, children's well-being is not supported as well as it should be. n Children are developing the required skills for their next stage of learning and eventual move to school. They are able to demonstrate and recall knowledge they have learned. Children remember that the colours yellow and blue make

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need to do better?

green when mixed together. They confidently explain that the plants they are growing in their garden need water and sunshine to grow and they enthusiastically talk about the vegetables and flowers. However, planning does not always ensure that the most-able children have sufficient challenge to push them further in their learning. This results in not all children remaining fully engaged in adult-led activities. n Managers and staff use their assessments of children to identify any potential gaps in their learning. They arrange targeted support to ensure no child is left behind. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported to help them learn the setting's routines. n Staff support children to manage their own personal hygiene and behaviour. For

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need to do better?

10 June 2021 example, children are reminded to wash their hands before snack time and lunch. Babies enjoy washing their hands at a handwashing station that has been purpose-built for their height. Children are taught the importance of manners and say 'please' and 'thank you' to staff and each other. Children behave well. Babies are supported in managing their feelings and emotions. Some have found it difficult returning to the setting following a period of absence due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Staff are attentive and provide reassurance, warmth and cuddles to help soothe upset babies. n Partnership working with parents is good. Parents report that they enjoy the 'home-links bags' with activities to do with children at home. These bags are tailored to children's needs to support them in their different stages of development. Parents feel supported and involved in their child's learning due to

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need to do better?

receiving regular updates and online assessments. n Staff receive training and opportunities for professional development. However, not all staff report that they feel fully supported at the setting. The manager uses self-evaluation to monitor and identify weaknesses along with staff supervisions. However, this has not been effective in identifying that staff morale is not always high.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff all have a confident understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. Staff receive regular training on a wide range of child protection and safeguarding issues. All staff know how to identify and escalate any concerns about children's welfare to the relevant professionals in a timely manner. Secure arrangements for safer recruitment are in place. Managers complete all required checks on staff and take steps to ensure their ongoing suitability. Children are encouraged to manage risks themselves in their play and when handling equipment. For example, children know how to safely carry scissors.

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Due date

ensure risk assessments are implemented effectively and swift action is taken by senior management to ensure the premises are fit for purpose 09/07/2021

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Due date

10 June 2021 support staff to improve the planning and organisation of care and learning experiences in the baby room, with specific regard to indoor activities. 30/07/2021

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should:

n plan further opportunities for the older and more-able children to enjoy increased levels of challenge in order to extend their thinking and learning n strengthen the system for self-evaluation to involve staff to identify areas for improvement and raise the quality of the provision.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY553630 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10155559 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 39 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Alpha Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01889566678 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Kensington House Day Nursery registered in 2017. It employs seven members of staff. The manager holds an appropriate qualification at level 6, one member of staff holds a qualification at level 5, three members of staff are qualified at level 3 and one member of staff is qualified at level 2. The nursery also employs a cook. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager. They observed staff's teaching practice during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A joint observation was carried out with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection and took account of their views and feedback. n The inspector looked at a selection of policies and procedures, accident and injury forms, the suitability and qualifications of staff working with the children, planning that was on the walls within the rooms, assessments, and evidence of self-evaluation. n The inspector viewed all areas of the premises.

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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

10 June 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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