Small Talk Nurseries

Inspection of Small Talk Nurseries 82-84 Green Lane, WOLVERHAMPTON WV6 9HJ

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Children who attend this nursery are not protected from harm. The provider does not ensure that staff who are designated to take the lead to safeguard children understand the procedures they need to follow in the event of an allegation being made against an adult working in the setting. In addition, there are areas of the garden that have not been made safe. Consequently, children's safety is not assured.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, children continue to be dropped off and collected from the nursery front door. Most children happily come into the setting and settle into their rooms. However, at times, some children do not interact and staff fail to identify changes in behaviour as a concern. Children do not make good enough progress and are not equipped well enough for their future learning. That said, they choose from the toys and resources that are easily accessible to them. The youngest children develop close bonds with staff, who know them well. They enjoy spending time with staff and seek them out for cuddles and comfort. This helps these children to feel secure during their time at the nursery.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Older children enjoy self-directed play with their peers and staff. For example, they focus to build towers from cubes and other shapes. They squeal with delight when the towers finally tumble to the floor. They develop some self-help skills to manage their own personal care, such as dressing and feeding themselves.

p.2

need to do better?

n The manager has an understanding of the curriculum and how this should be used to support children to progress through their stages in learning. However, this is not consistently implemented into practice. Staff do not use the opportunity when children first start to gather information from parents to help them plan for children's learning from the outset. The quality of teaching is variable. Not all children receive the quality interactions and experiences they need to develop their skills and understanding in preparation for their future learning. n Staff are provided with training opportunities to increase their skills. However, this training does not always provide them with the understanding of what children need or how they learn. The manager's monitoring of staff performance is not effective. This is because the weaknesses in staff practice have not been identified and the support required to improve teaching is not sufficient to raise

p.2

need to do better?

the quality of the provision for children. For example, staff ask continuous questions while children play outdoors. Children make attempts to respond, but their answers are not heard as staff continue to talk. n Children in need of additional support do not always receive the help they need.

p.2

need to do better?

14 February 2022 This is because staff do not liaise with parents or other professionals in a timely way. As a result, some children have made no progress and are at risk of significant delays in their development. n There are times when staff lack an understanding of how to meet children's individual needs. For example, they do not respond appropriately where children dislike loud noises and are not comfortable to sit with large groups of children. n Children enjoy playing with water and become engrossed while filling and emptying various pots. However, during this play, children's clothing becomes wet and is not changed. At other times, children's basic care needs, including their personal care, such as nappy changing, are not met quickly enough by staff to ensure that children feel comfortable. n At times, some routines interrupt children's play and experiences, and reduce the time they have to finish playing. For example, children have to tidy away all

p.2

need to do better?

of the toys in time for a story and are then asked to leave the story to wash their hands ready for lunch. This impacts on children's overall enjoyment and the quality of the experiences that they receive, especially being able to listen to a story to its conclusion. n At times, some staff model speech and language well. They repeat back what children say, which helps them to hear the correct pronunciation of words. Babies have fun with staff as they explore toy animals on a tray of cereals. They explore the textures with their hands. They learn new words as staff say the cereals are 'crunchy' or 'soft'. Children are keen to show what they know. They say that cows say 'moo' and ducks say 'quack'. Staff praise them with claps and smiles, and children giggle as they make the sounds. n Babies learn about their body parts. They are confident to point to their heads and are beginning to learn about their other features, such as their nose, eyes

p.3

need to do better?

and fingers. Staff continue this learning with babies and sing a familiar song about their bodies. n Parents say they receive daily information about their child's day at collection times. They say that staff are friendly and helpful.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider has an appropriate safeguarding policy and procedures in place. However, those designated to take the lead in safeguarding children do not have a robust enough knowledge and understanding of the procedures to follow if an allegation is made about a colleague. All staff show some understanding of how to report concerns about children's welfare. However, they lack professional curiosity where there are some signs that a child may be vulnerable to abuse. The provider does not identify risks to children in the outdoor play environment and has not taken steps to remove or minimise these risks. That said, the procedures for recruitment of staff are robust. This includes background checks to ensure staff's ongoing suitability to work with children.

p.3

Due date

make sure effective arrangements are in place to support children's emerging needs; access support from other professionals and liaise with parents in a timely manner 13/05/2022

p.4

Due date

make sure that the provider and staff who are designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children are confident in and understand the local procedures to follow when an allegation is made against a member of staff, including notifying the local authority designated officer and Ofsted without delay 25/02/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that all risks to children's safety are identified swiftly and action is taken to remove or minimise any risks and hazards in a timely manner; with specific regard to the garden area 25/02/2022

p.4

Due date

use effective monitoring to identify weaknesses in staff and manager's practice, and implement training and support to improve their knowledge and skills to raise the quality of the provision to a consistently good level. 13/05/2022

p.4

Due date

improve the quality of teaching and interactions with children, so that staff are able to consistently guide all children's learning through purposeful routines and play experiences 13/05/2022

p.4

Due date

14 February 2022 gain information from parents at the start about what their children already know and can do, and use this information to plan effectively to ensure children make progress in their learning and development 13/05/2022

p.4

Due date

make sure children's personal health care needs are consistently met; specifically in relation to nappy changing and changing out of other clothing that is wet. 13/05/2022

p.5

Setting details

Unique reference number 2616890 Local authority Wolverhampton Inspection number 10221735 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.6

Registers

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

p.6

inspection

Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Rak Day Care Ltd

p.6

reference number

Telephone number 07809482531 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.6

Information about this early years setting

Small Talk Nurseries registered in 2020 and is situated in Wolverhampton. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 6 to level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children.

p.6

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting has 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 their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the organisation and intent of the curriculum and how the environment is arranged. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching throughout the inspection. A joint evaluation of the quality of teaching within an activity took place between the manager and the inspector. n The inspector spoke to parents at appropriate times and took account of their views of the setting. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the leader and the manager and discussed how the setting is organised. The inspector reviewed relevant documentation,

p.7

Inspection activities

including evidence of the suitability of staff working at the setting. n This inspection was carried out following the risk assessment process.

p.7

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.7

Inspection activities

14 February 2022 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.7

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.8

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.8

Inspection activities

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

p.8

Inspection activities

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

p.8