Footsteps Nursery Fazeley

Inspection of Footsteps Nursery Fazeley Unit 1 Bonehill Mews, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3QS

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

At times, older children's health, safety, care and learning are compromised due to ineffective deployment of staff. A lack of secure arrangements to cover events, such as staff leaving the room, means that the required staff-to-child ratio is not met and so there are not enough staff to meet the children's needs. That said, when staff are effectively deployed, children are safe and their learning needs are met.

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The provision is inadequate

Babies are cared for by familiar staff who are kind, sensitive and gentle towards their needs. Baby room staff frequently sit and play with these young children at their level. They communicate and sing to the babies. Consequently, babies feel safe and secure in their surroundings. Children who are less settled on the arrival of visitors are swiftly given the support they need. Children approaching two years of age and up to three years are suitably supported in most areas of their development and have their interests met by staff. For example, when a child approaches a member of staff with a toy elephant, she introduces the children to a song about an elephant.

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The provision is inadequate

All ages of children relish their time in the well-planned outdoor forest school environment. Older children independently explore how they can move large wooden bobbins by sitting on them and rocking side to side or pushing them along with their feet.

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need to do better?

n The deployment of staff requires significant improvements. This is specifically in relation to the pre-school children, in order to ensure that their health and safety and care and learning needs can be consistently met at all times. n Older children are encouraged to be independent through challenges staff provide at mealtimes. This helps them to be school ready. For example, they learn to serve their own meals, scrape their own plates after eating and select their own dessert. However, some younger children are set challenges at mealtimes that are too great for their current stage of development and capabilities. For example, the expected next stage following babies use of a spoon in each hand to eat their meal, is to use a knife and fork. n Pre-school children are presented with appropriate challenges most of the time. Activities led by staff create awe and wonder. Children show excitement as they

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need to do better?

hide their eyes and are asked to guess the sound of a musical instrument. However, during some adult-led activities, staff focus too much on the intent of an activity. As a result, at times, children's critical thinking skills are restricted as staff do not ask them questions to extend their learning. n The senior staff team have a positive attitude towards how the setting can

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need to do better?

8 December 2021 improve. For example, the manager identifies that, following absences related to COVID-19, many of the youngest children need more support to separate from their parents and build relationships with their key staff. However, the senior team do not always swiftly identify all aspects of the service that need to be improved. n Staff's mental health and well-being are supported by the provider. Counselling is accessible to all staff. In addition, staff feel that the manager is approachable, understands the challenges they face day to day, and that she helps them to resolve issues as they arise. n All children socialise with their peers and staff throughout the day. Rising three- year-olds and pre-school children chat to one another about what items of clothing they need to wear as they prepare to go outside to play. They confidently engage with and seek the support of adults, including the inspector,

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need to do better?

to help them fasten their coats. They really enjoy chatting about the pictures of the characters that are embellished on their hats and scarfs. n Children learn about how to keep themselves safe. Staff explain to them how to keep safe on the staircase. Staff give them instructions to follow and monitor that they are doing so throughout their walk from the top to the bottom of the staircase. n Inclusion is promoted really well. Children learn how to be respectful and kind to one another. Staff help children to identify how they are feeling and understand and recognise their similarities and differences. For example, they discuss with the children that we all have different family make ups. They learn that some children live with one parent and others live with two mums or two dads.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a breach in requirements regarding deployment of staff and, as a result, children are not safeguarded. Arrangements are in place to ensure all staff fully understand what they must do if they have a concern about the practice of one of their colleagues, such as how children's behaviour is managed. They immediately implement the setting's whistle-blowing procedures to inform senior management. In turn, senior management take swift action to implement their disciplinary procedures and contact the local area designated safeguarding lead. Procedures for recruitment and selection of staff meet requirements. Newly recruited staff are supported through an assigned mentor and have frequent meetings with the manager during their induction period.

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Due date

8 December 2021 ensure that staff are deployed effectively at all times to keep children safe and ensure their needs are met 24/12/2021

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Due date

make sure that all children's physical development, with regards to their handling skills, is consistently supported in line with their capabilities and current stage of development. 24/12/2021

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should:

n extend the support given to pre-school children to further develop their critical thinking skills n monitor all aspects of the provision to ensure all areas that require improvement are swiftly identified.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY484981 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10216822 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 63 Number of children on roll 156 Name of registered person Footsteps Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01827 286668 Date of previous inspection 2 August 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Footsteps Nursery Fazeley registered in 2014. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3, or 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector toured the nursery and completed a learning walk with the manager. The manager described how the environment and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector held a meeting with the senior team. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

8 December 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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