Smartys

Inspection of Smartys THE BUNGALOW LICHFIELD ROAD, STONE, STAFFORDSHIRE ST15 8QU

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Babies arrive happy at nursery and receive a warm welcome. They develop strong bonds with staff, who are kind and nurturing. Staff focus on babies' emotional needs and give plenty of cuddles to provide extra reassurance. This helps to enhance key attachments and ensure babies feel safe and secure. Staff respond quickly to meet babies' routines and care needs. Babies hear a range of vocabulary and engage well with stories and songs. They point to pictures in books and repeat familiar sounds. Staff create anticipation and excitement as they spontaneously sing songs and action rhymes. Throughout activities staff praise babies. This helps support their developing emotional skills.

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The provision is good

The environment is calm and well resourced with an emphasis on natural resources. Babies enjoy a range of activities which enables them to explore their senses. Staff provide activities inside, such as sand and water play. Babies splash around squealing happily and learning new words. Younger babies enjoy sensory play. They explore a range of textures, such as foam, sensory bottles, and shredded paper. Older babies enjoy smelling and picking herbs outside, before returning inside to add them to scent play dough.

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need to do better?

n The management team have a strong ethos and strive to ensure the best outcomes for the babies. They want to 'ignite babies' curiosity' and are developing the curriculum in this area. n Staff plan activities inside around babies' interests. They provide interesting play activities and experiences that help develop babies' curiosity. For example, young babies explore treasure baskets that include a variety of materials, textures, and objects. However, staff do not plan as well for opportunities outside and babies' interest in playing in the garden is sometimes overlooked. n Staff provide a range of physical activities to support the development of babies' fine-motor skills, such as using their fingers to make marks in foam. However, younger babies are occasionally held too much and have limited opportunities to move in more physical ways during play. Therefore, there is scope to further enhance their large physical skills.

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need to do better?

n Babies experience the world and community around them. For example, they visit the canal to watch the boats and view the wildlife. This helps babies develop wonder about the world they live in. n Staff ensure communication and language is threaded through the curriculum. They model good language throughout the day. Babies copy words and sounds they hear, for example in the water play they copy 'splat' and 'pop' as they explore bubbles. Stories and singing form part of everyday activities. For example, babies find a picture of a sea turtle and staff immediately sing a song

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need to do better?

8 August 2022 about this familiar animal. n Staff manage behaviour well and remind babies of the simple rules. They distract and divert any negative behaviours in a prompt way. Babies receive plenty of positive encouragement and praise throughout the day, which helps to enhance their emotional well-being. n Many staff have been at the setting for years and are dedicated to the care of the babies. The key-person system is strong. Staff know babies well and understand their individual needs. Babies settle well and enjoy their time at nursery. Staff consider the transition of babies to the toddler nursery next door. Babies spend time visiting the new setting with familiar staff and toddler staff spend time with the babies in this setting. This helps babies to get to know new surroundings and staff, and prepares them for their future learning. n Babies enjoy a range of healthy snacks, such as rice cakes and melon. Healthy

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need to do better?

lunches are prepared at the toddler nursery and brought over for the babies. They cater for different stages of weaning, varied dietary requirements and allergies. This helps to support babies' health and well-being. n Staff observe each other and reflect on their practice. Managers organise regular supervisions and appraisals. These help identify training needs and set targets for staff to support them in their continuous improvement. n Parent partnership is strong. Staff communicate with parents verbally and using an online application to exchange information. This keeps parents up to date with what their children are doing through the day and helps to promote consistency of care.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff understand the importance of their role in safeguarding children and have sound knowledge of the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child. They can recognise the different types of child abuse and identify key signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm. Staff regularly undertake online training and on-the-spot quizzes to ensure they have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding. The premises are secure and risk assessments are effective. Staff record and monitor injuries from both at home and in nursery. Staff deploy themselves well and babies are adequately supervised. This helps them to keep them safe.

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should:

n make the most of opportunities for babies to explore and play outside n plan and provide highly challenging activities for babies to help promote their large physical skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 218485 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10072570 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 20 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Smarty's Day Nursery (Stone) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01785 817974 Date of previous inspection 14 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Smartys registered in 1999 and is part of a privately owned chain of five nurseries. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds early years teacher status, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm.

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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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual/registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

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Inspection activities

n Parents and carers shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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 August 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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