Buttons Explorers

Inspection of Buttons Explorers 11 Alvin Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL1 3EH

p.1

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

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Children arrive at nursery happy and settle well. They are greeted by the friendly and caring staff, and choose what they would like to play with. Some aspects of the curriculum are promoted well. Children develop an appreciation of diversity. They learn about cultures different from their own as they receive a postcard from a different country each month. Together, staff and children look at photographs of the country and discuss the language they speak and the traditions they follow. However, while the manager is able to demonstrate how the nursery promotes key areas of the curriculum, staff are not confident in their knowledge and skills. As a result, teaching is variable and children do not always benefit from a challenging and stimulating curriculum to help them make good progress.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Children are encouraged to adopt healthy practices. Staff remind them to wash their hands before mealtimes. Children develop appropriate levels of independence. For example, they practise spreading butter onto their savoury muffin. However, during snack time, children are provided with drinks that are too high in sugar. Consequently, children's oral health is not fully supported.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

The nursery remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic for the children of key workers, those requiring extra support, and children in receipt of additional funding. Staff introduced outdoor drop-off and collection arrangements to ensure social distancing guidelines could be followed and everyone felt safe.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff regularly review nursery policies and documentation. This helps them to understand the procedures to follow when at the nursery. However, records for monitoring children's attendance are not always accurate. This is because children are not always signed out of the setting at the end of each day. For example, attendance registers fail to show children's complete hours of attendance. n Staff make some observations and assessments of children's learning and progress. However, this information is not used effectively. Staff do not target their planning precisely enough on what children need to learn next. They do not share emerging developmental concerns with other professionals or parents in a timely manner. This means that children, including those in receipt of additional funding, do not benefit from the early intervention required for them to make the best possible progress. n Children develop an interest in books and stories. They sit together in a small

p.2

need to do better?

group to listen to the story that they will perform for the Christmas play. Children join in with familiar parts of the story and giggle as staff make funny noises and actions. This supports children's early literacy skills.

p.2

need to do better?

12 November 2021 n Additional funding is spent appropriately to meet the needs of the children who attend. The manager explains that they have purchased different resources and equipment, such as a parachute to enhance children's group experiences outside in the fresh air. However, staff do not make the best use of the outdoor provision to support children's learning as fully as possible. n Children know what is expected of them. They learn to follow nursery rules and play nicely as a group. Children behave well. They learn to share and take turns as they play a group game with staff. Children's behaviour is rewarded when they become 'helper of the day'. They proudly help staff to prepare snack and lay the table. This helps children to feel like a valued member of the nursery and supports their self-esteem. n Staff talk to parents at the end of the day and share information about their child's care. Written daily diaries share some general information with parents

p.2

need to do better?

about their child's day at nursery. However, they do not share enough information about what children need to learn next or how to support their learning at home. n The manager completes regular supervision and appraisal sessions. However, these monitoring sessions are not effective and managers fail to identify gaps in staff's knowledge and skills. This results in staff not being confident in their role or knowledge of how to deliver an effective curriculum.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe from harm. They complete daily safety checks on all areas of the nursery to ensure the learning environment is free from hazards. Children learn how to keep themselves safe and take part in regular fire drills. They learn that they must line up and safely make their way to their designated space in the car park. Staff are aware of the signs that a child may be at risk. They refer to their safeguarding policy to confirm what they would do in the event of a concern about a child in their care. The manager follows effective recruitment procedures to ensure staff's ongoing suitability for their role.

p.3

Due date

12 November 2021 improve procedures for monitoring staff practice, identifying weaknesses and targeting professional development more closely to raise the quality of the teaching to a consistently good standard 03/12/2021

p.3

Due date

ensure that children's good health, including their oral health, is effectively promoted throughout the nursery 03/12/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure staff maintain an accurate daily record of the names of children being cared for on the premises and their hours of attendance 03/12/2021

p.4

Due date

ensure that children who may need additional help with their learning are provided with timely support, including from external professionals. 03/12/2021

p.4

should:

n review and extend the learning opportunities in the outdoor provision, to help children who prefer to learn outdoors make the best possible progress n enhance communication with parents so they are clear about what children need to learn next so they can support this at home.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2518730 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10191789 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 14 Number of children on roll 11 Name of registered person Gardner-Wilce, Terrie Hazel

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01452 416570 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Buttons Explorers registered in 2019 and is located in Gloucester. The nursery operates from 9am until 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only. The nursery employs three members of staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 4 and two at level 3. The nursery is registered to accept funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This is the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken this into account in her evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and inspector discussed activities and intentions for children's learning during a learning walk. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities to assess the impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to children, staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at a selection of documentation and checked the suitability of staff working with the children.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

12 November 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7