The Old Station Nursery - Stratford-upon-Avon

Inspection of Polkadot Day Nursery Greyswood, The Ridgeway, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 9JL

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Safeguarding practice is weak at this nursery. The manager does not have a secure enough understanding of all safeguarding procedures, such as the correct process to follow if there is an allegation made against a member of staff. This compromises children's safety and welfare significantly. Children's learning is variable. For example, staff do not consistently consider potential learning opportunities or provide resources to broaden learning and support babies' interests when planning the curriculum.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff do not receive adequate support and coaching to enable them to perform their safeguarding roles and responsibilities to a consistently good level. The manager has ineffective procedures for checking the quality of staff's practice. Although she provides staff with some supervision meetings, these are not sufficient to ensure areas of weakness are managed swiftly. In addition, she has not identified weaknesses in the delivery of the curriculum.

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The provision is inadequate

Nonetheless, children show that they feel comfortable in the care of staff and form warm relationships with them. Staff give babies lots of cuddles for reassurance, which supports their emotional well-being effectively. Children have ample opportunities to develop their physical skills and get lots of fresh air and exercise in the garden area. Children play contentedly alongside others and strive to behave well.

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need to do better?

n The manager lacks a clear oversight about the quality of the provision, and weaknesses in safeguarding put children's welfare at risk. The manager has failed to ensure staff understand the nursery's safeguarding policies and procedures fully. n Leaders and managers know what they want children to learn over time in order for them to be ready for the next step in their learning. However, teaching is varied. At times, children are not challenged well enough or successfully engaged by the educational programmes on offer. This has an impact on the overall progress they make. n The manager does not support staff to improve their teaching skills effectively. Some staff do not understand how to engage and support children's learning consistently. For example, in the baby room, staff fail to notice when some of the younger children lose interest and concentration during activities, such as when they cannot complete the puzzles. As a result, some of the younger

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need to do better?

children lose interest and motivation in their learning. n Parents speak positively about the nursery. They praise how accommodating the staff are and say their children enjoy attending. This is evident from how well

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need to do better?

22 July 2022 the children separate from their parents as they enter the setting. Staff share some information with parents regarding their children's day and progress. For example, they provide regular updates during collection times, and through electronic learning journals. n Behaviour management is inconsistent across the nursery. Staff fail to intervene in some behavioural incidents and this means that children receive mixed messages about what is expected of them. For example, in the baby room some staff support younger children to roll balls across the floor instead of throwing to keep others safe, while other staff encourage throwing. This leaves children unsure about what is expected. n Children follow suitable routines to help promote their good health, such as handwashing before eating. Toddlers find their own drinking cup when they are thirsty. Staff sit with children during mealtimes and role model good manners.

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need to do better?

n At times, staff support children's communication and language skills well. Babies babble away happily as they stack wooden objects and watch them fall. Staff talk to babies with enthusiasm and introduce new vocabulary. Older children speak with increasingly long sentences as they investigate logs and bugs. n Staff work closely with other professionals to put appropriate support in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For example, they use sign language to support and further children's understanding. This ensures all children are building skills in communication and language.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager is aware of her safeguarding responsibilities and implements appropriate recruitment processes to ensure staff are suitable. However, she has limited knowledge of some areas of potential concern, including signs and symptoms of potential radicalisation or extremist behaviour. Although the manager ensures that staff receive relevant training, she does not check that all staff have a secure knowledge of safeguarding. Some staff do not have sufficient understanding of how to recognise concerns that children may be vulnerable to safeguarding matters, such as extreme views or female genital mutilation.

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Due date

ensure staff, including the manager, understand the correct procedure to follow in the event of an allegation against a member of staff 26/08/2022

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Due date

22 July 2022 strengthen staff understanding of safeguarding, particularly relating to the 'Prevent' duty and risks to children from extreme views, radicalisation and female genital mutilation 26/08/2022

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Due date

improve the support and coaching for staff to ensure all staff understand how to deliver a high-quality curriculum and challenge, engage and support children consistently 26/08/2022

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Due date

implement consistent strategies for managing children's behaviour in order for children to have a clear understanding of appropriate boundaries and expectations. 26/08/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY292440 Local authority Warwickshire Inspection number 10116282 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 43 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Polkadot Day Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01789 290101 Date of previous inspection 28 January 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Polkadot Day Nursery was registered in 2004. It is located in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 11 staff who work at the nursery, eight of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector took account of parents' views through their verbal and written feedback.

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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

22 July 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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