Little Toes Day Nursery Clifton

Inspection of Little Toes Day Nursery Clifton 15 Green Lane, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG11 9HT

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety and welfare are not assured. Children are not supervised well enough. For example, on the day of inspection, a child left the premises unsupervised, and staff were unaware that the child was missing. Following the inspection, the provider's registration was suspended as children were at risk of further harm should the nursery have continued to operate.

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The provision is inadequate

Overall, the curriculum is not clearly organised and sequenced. As a result, activities lack focus and children receive a poor quality of education. Staff do not have the necessary skills and knowledge to help older children progress in their learning. Therefore, some children are at risk of falling behind. However, staff in the baby room respond well to children's interests and provide activities to help them develop. For example, when children are learning to walk, staff raise activities up to a higher level to encourage children to stand to build the muscles in their legs in preparation for walking. Staff know the babies well and provide comfort and reassurance when they need it.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite the significant weaknesses, children are generally happy and settled in the nursery. They listen to staff and their behaviour is mainly good. However, children's confidence, self-esteem and overall well-being are jeopardised. For example, children are prevented by staff from returning to the play dough table if they leave to wash their sticky hands. This means that children are either left in discomfort or discouraged from continuing with a learning experience they are enjoying.

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need to do better?

n There are a number of failings in regard to the leadership and management of the provision. Procedures for monitoring staff's performance are ineffective. Managers do not give enough attention to improving the quality of education. They do not identify areas where staff need to improve or provide support to help raise the standard of practice. They fail to ensure that the premises are safe and secure. n Staff do not successfully identify risks to children in the environment. For example, outdoor play areas are unsafe as large gaps underneath gates mean that children can escape from the nursery. Additionally, children do not have enough space to ride bicycles and move freely in their play due to the overcrowding of equipment. As a result, children cannot fulfil their interests and develop their physical skills. n Leaders do not effectively deploy suitably trained and experienced staff to ensure that all children are safe and supported in their learning and

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need to do better?

development. Staff undertake mandatory training, such as safeguarding and

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need to do better?

13 September 2022 paediatric first aid, but they do not receive training to improve their teaching skills to a satisfactory level. The quality of teaching is inconsistent, and interactions between staff and children are generally weak. For example, staff do not pose questions to encourage children to develop their critical thinking skills, and they do not give children time to respond to questions asked. Indeed, staff frequently answer for children. n Staff in the pre-school room do not provide children with a variety of resources to ignite their creativity or develop their role-play ideas. Children do not have sufficient opportunities to practise using skills, such as dressing and undressing and managing fastenings found on clothing, for instance zips and buttons. n Children are not encouraged to develop their independence skills. Staff put children's coats and bags away upon arrival. Furthermore, staff disrupt children's

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need to do better?

play. For instance, children used the shape cutters when manipulating their play dough. They firmly pressed down to create a shape and when they lifted the cutter off, staff picked the shape out for them. Children were not supported to extend their learning and carry out this activity for themselves. n The manager was unable to provide evidence of important developmental records for all children at the time of inspection. For example, a completed progress check for children aged between two and three years was only available for some children. Furthermore, some information that must be held about children is incomplete. However, staff do carry out assessments for children twice a year. n Staff swiftly intervene when children struggle to share. However, they do not help children to manage and understand their own feelings and behaviours, or how their behaviour affects others. n Due to the weaknesses in teaching, children do not make as much progress as

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need to do better?

they possibly could. However, staff and leaders do identify children who may need additional support, such as children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Parents state they are happy with the nursery staff and the care their children receive. They have regular discussions with staff about their children at the end of their child's day. Parents have access to an online app to review what their child is learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have failed to monitor the setting well enough. They do not have a suitable understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children, especially with regard to providing a safe and secure environment. For example, staff do not supervise children effectively and do not conduct thorough risk assessments. Staff are not alert to hazards that put children at risk of harm, such as an insecure perimeter, which means children are able to leave the premises unsupervised. However, staff know the signs and symptoms of possible abuse, including extremism and radicalisation. They know how to report any concerns they may have to the appropriate agencies.

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Due date

ensure that children are not able to leave the premises unsupervised 23/09/2022

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Due date

conduct thorough risk assessments that identify and manage any risks to children effectively to reduce all potential hazards 23/09/2022

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Due date

deploy adequately experienced and trained staff to supervise children sufficiently at all times to ensure their safety 23/09/2022

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Due date

develop and implement a process to ensure that staff supervision arrangements are effective in monitoring and identifying gaps in staff's knowledge 07/10/2022

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Due date

ensure staff are provided with an appropriate programme of professional development to enable them to support children's learning effectively 07/10/2022

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Due date

organise the outdoor environment to ensure there is enough space for children to play and move freely and safely 07/10/2022

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Due date

ensure that the required documentation is complete, easily accessible and available for inspection. 07/10/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2509661 Local authority Nottingham Inspection number 10191611 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 40 Number of children on roll 98 Name of registered person Little Toes Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01159841708 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Toes Day Nursery Clifton registered in 2018 and is located in Clifton, Nottingham. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n A planned activity was observed and evaluated by the inspector and the manager. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk of the setting where they discussed the early years provision and the aims of the curriculum. n The inspector spoke with parents and was provided with written feedback to gather their views. n The inspector viewed a range of documentation, including paediatric first-aid certificates and Disclosure and Barring Service check records.

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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

13 September 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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