Springfields Day Nursery

Inspection of Springfields Day Nursery 26 Stone Road, Eccleshall, STAFFORD ST21 6DJ

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children are well settled and have positive relationships with staff. They are happy and demonstrate they feel secure and safe attending. Staff are kind, caring and friendly. They find out about and follow children's care needs to ensure these are met. The atmosphere is calm and all children generally behave well. From an early age, children learn to cooperate with daily routines, including nappy changes and taking part in snack and mealtimes seated at a table with their peers. Toddlers participate in small-group singing sessions and tidy up times when requested. They can listen and follow instruction with plenty of staff support.

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The provision requires improvement

The curriculum does not consistently provide broad opportunities for the youngest children to build a strong foundation across all of the prime areas of learning. This specifically applies to those in the toddler room. Staff do not consider carefully the individual needs, interests and development of each child when planning and providing activities. That said, the environments are well resourced and children generally have fun playing with the age-appropriate toys they independently access. Babies are encouraged to complete puzzles and build with bricks. Toddlers are encouraged to take part in physical activities outside, using a variety of equipment that enhances their large-muscle skills, such as a slide and ride-on vehicles.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff make some attempt to enhance the learning environments. For example, staff provide opportunities for babies to colour with crayons. They provide toddlers with some sensory exploration inside with wet and dry materials. However, due to the weaknesses in teaching, children do not reach their full potential at this nursery. This includes those in receipt of two-year-old funding and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the leadership and management team have not been able to maintain good standards. However, since the recent Ofsted regulatory visit, leaders and managers have made necessary improvements to safeguarding practices. This has a positive impact on children's health, safety and well-being. n The curriculum is not well thought out. Babies and toddlers enjoy plenty of self- exploration. However, staff do not always provide them with age-appropriate adult-led activities that focus on securing the prime areas of their learning, particularly in the toddler room. Occasionally, staff overlook these when planning as their focus is elsewhere, such as colour recognition. Also, at times, when planning for the prime areas of learning, the activities they provide are a few steps ahead of where children are in their actual development. This approach does not help fully promote or foster children's good progress.

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need to do better?

27 April 2022 n Staff get to know children fairly well. They observe them and make some key assessments of their abilities, including identifying some pertinent next steps in learning. However, they do not utilise what they know effectively enough when planning as they are too reliant on whole-group ideas. This includes topics such as transport and particular skills, such as scissor control. As a result, children do not always show interest in what is on offer or they struggle to persist with activities. They often lose concentration and swiftly flit to something else. n Children's physical welfare is promoted. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cleanliness and hygiene regimes were reviewed and adapted. Additional measures were introduced that continue to help prevent the spread of infection. A nursery cook provides a varied menu of home-cooked snacks and meals, and children's dietary requirements are accommodated. Due to a recent increase in

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need to do better?

staff holding first-aid training, at least one person with first-aid training is always present when children are attending. n Staff support children to develop independence. Babies and toddlers can freely explore the environment and make their own play choices. Toddlers are encouraged to put on their own coats and shoes before outdoor play. They also have a go at buttering their own toast during breakfast time to build on these skills. This helps to prepare them somewhat for their transition, either within the nursery company or externally to a pre-school environment. n Managers and most of the staff are suitably qualified. Managers care about staff's well-being and they are supported to upskill, as many are working towards higher level qualifications. However, the arrangements for manager and staff supervision do not help foster continuous improvement. They are not utilised effectively enough to improve the quality of teaching and help maintain

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need to do better?

children's attainment at a good level. n Parents are positive about the service provided. However, there is scope to enhance partnerships with parents, including sharing more two-way information about children's progress, to better support them to extend children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Recently, managers have improved the safeguarding culture within the nursery. Recruitment arrangements have been reviewed and all staff are subject to suitable vetting checks, which are clearly recorded. Staff induction has been improved to ensure all staff gain swift safeguarding knowledge. The premises are secure and the environment is clean and tidy. Risk assessments are effective. Staff benefit from child protection training and refresher courses, which cover all key signs and symptoms of child abuse, neglect, radicalisation, extremism and grooming. Managers have a newly implemented system for identifying, recording and monitoring safeguarding concerns, which is being used effectively in practice. Managers thoroughly understand the importance of liaison with other agencies to ensure timely referrals are made and the sharing of information takes place. This helps to keep children safe.

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Due date

improve the curriculum and ensure that staff consider carefully the individual needs, interests and development of each child when planning and providing activities 05/07/2022

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Due date

ensure the curriculum provides broad opportunities for the youngest children to build a strong foundation across the prime areas of their learning, specifically in the toddler room 05/07/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure the arrangements for manager and staff supervision foster continuous improvement and are utilised effectively to improve the quality of teaching and raise children's attainment. 05/07/2022

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should:

n enhance partnerships with parents, including sharing more two-way information about children's progress, to better support them to extend children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550378 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10237817 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 52 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Springfields Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01785 851710 Date of previous inspection 16 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Springfields Day Nursery originally registered in 2002 and re-registered as a limited company in 2017. The nursery is located in Eccleshall, Stafford. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, the majority hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded free early education for two-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 toured the premises with the deputy manager and discussed the nursery curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors. She assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager of the nursery of a planned adult-led activity in the toddler room. n The inspector spoke to staff and held a meeting with the nursery manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and checked evidence of the suitability of all those working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

27 April 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.

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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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