The Annex

Inspection of The Annex 32A Lyttelton Road, Stechford, Birmingham, West Midlands B33 8BH

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily to the setting and settle quickly into their rooms with familiar staff. The environment is bright, well designed and inviting for children. They develop close relationships with staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff are attentive to children's needs.

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The provision is good

Children quickly find what interests them. For example, they use a range of natural resources to paint, using one-handed tools and experimenting with colours, cones and marks they make. They talk about their creations and the colours they use with staff. For example, in the sensory garden, they explore the natural environment, bringing apples to add to their play and mashing them in the mud kitchen. They say they are making mashed potatoes for mummy. Children choose which herbs to add from the accessible planting spaces. They encourage staff to smell these with them, both saying, 'mmm'.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Staff know the children well. Staff have received recent behaviour management training which has helped to strengthen the positive behaviour strategies they use. As a result, children listen and respond well to staff guidance and reminders to use their manners. Children say 'please' and 'thank you'.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time in this setting. They are keen to take part in stories and offer their thoughts on what will happen next. Children show positive attitudes to learning. They gain the skills and understanding they need to prepare them for their next stages in learning.

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need to do better?

n The provider has made significant improvements in the nursery since the last inspection. This has helped to raise the quality of provision that children receive. The provider has a well-designed curriculum that sequences the learning effectively for all children. Children's key persons gain valuable information from parents when children first start. This tells them what children know and can do so far and helps them to plan for what each child is ready to learn next. n Staff regularly observe children to assess their progress and focus the planning of activities to ensure children are provided with opportunities to practise their skills and increase their knowledge. For example, babies snuggle closely with their key person to read a story together. Staff use different tones and introduce new words for babies to hear and use. Babies copy staff and whisper repeated words. They squeal with delight as they lift the flap to reveal a gorilla.

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need to do better?

n Children practise their physical skills in a range of ways, using the different gardens in the nursery. For example, they have fun lining up and riding various

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need to do better?

11 October 2022 wheeled toys around traffic cones. Children explore the sensory garden and make marks with water and paintbrushes. Younger children use brushes to wash their dinosaur figures. n Children show increasing independence. Older children change their shoes before playing outdoors. They learn to manage their own personal care needs. However, there is further scope for children to develop independence by completing tasks for themselves, particularly at mealtimes. n Staff promote children's speech and language development well. This includes children who speak English as an additional language and those who receive additional support to develop their speech. Staff speak clearly and model conversation well. Children are provided with ample time to think and respond to questions they are asked. For example, while children plant bulbs, staff ask how many they have already planted. Children hold the bulb proudly to show the

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need to do better?

inspector and respond when they are ready with the correct number. n Children enjoy singing with familiar ring games outdoors. They eagerly follow the actions and sing the words they know. Children giggle with excitement when they quickly hide underneath the play parachute. Staff provide children with opportunities to hear different languages or those which may be more familiar to them. For example, children join in with songs from other countries. These songs are familiar as children sing some words and follow the actions in time with staff. n The manager ensures that staff receive regular guidance and training to increase their knowledge. However, staff would benefit from support which is more focused to further embed what they know and build their confidence in their abilities. This would help to further enhance staff's own professional development. n Parents speak highly of the nursery. They say their children are excited to attend

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need to do better?

each day. Parents report on how well their children's speech has improved. They say they are happy with the daily information they gain from friendly staff about their children's care and learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider has ensured that staff have further knowledge of signs and symptoms that indicate a child may be at risk of abuse. Staff know these indicators and understand the local procedures to follow if they have child protection concerns. This includes concerns about the conduct of a colleague working with children. Staff also know how to escalate these concerns if this is required. Safer recruitment procedures are robust. These include the background checks that must be carried out to ensure the suitability of adults working in the nursery. All staff now hold paediatric first-aid certificates. This helps to ensure that children receive the right care in the event of an accident. The nursery premises are routinely checked to ensure that it is safe for children to attend.

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should:

n increase the opportunities for children to develop independence and complete tasks for themselves, particularly at mealtimes n strengthen the support for staff through the existing arrangements for supervision, to focus the monitoring of staff skills, knowledge and understanding to help increase their confidence in their abilities and enhance their own professional development further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY297165 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10243266 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 48 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person McNally, Joanne

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 603 8245 Date of previous inspection 26 April 2022

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Information about this early years setting

The Annex registered in 2003. It employs seven members of childcare staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 to level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery offers out-of-school provision, including a holiday club, and receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. 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 and considered the impact this has on children's learning. A joint evaluation of the quality of teaching during 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 manager and discussed how the setting is organised. The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working at the setting.

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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

11 October 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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