Dean Close Little Trees Day Nursery, Tutshill

Inspection of Dean Close Little Trees Day Nursery, Tutshill Castleford Hill, CHEPSTOW NP16 7LE

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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 Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Older children show that they feel at ease with staff and have formed secure relationships with them. They are keen to explore the activities together, such as drawing numbers and shapes with chalk outside as part of their game. They spend long periods engaged, chatting about what they are doing, showing a positive attitude towards their learning. Some younger children are unsettled, and this means staff spend time reassuring them. While staff are caring, they do not organise the environment or activities to entice the younger and unsettled children to explore and ignite their interests. Those children who are settled are, at times, left to their own devices and wander around playing on their own. This means that opportunities for learning are lost.

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The provision requires improvement

The curriculum is not planned and sequenced meticulously to enable all children to make the best possible progress. The manager does not ensure that staff consistently focus teaching on helping all children achieve their individual next steps in learning well, particularly the younger children. This includes children who are at risk of falling behind in their speech and language development.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff have appropriate expectations of the children. Toddlers are encouraged to tidy away the toys while singing a 'tidy up' song and to feed themselves their lunch. Older children use the toilets and flush them independently, washing their hands afterwards.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the area manager has ensured that staff's knowledge of the policies and procedures to help keep children safe and healthy have improved. Staff supervise children carefully and regularly check the premises for potential risks and to maintain good standards of hygiene. n The area manager can evaluate staff's teaching practice and identify where improvements are needed. However, she has not fully embedded her monitoring of planning and teaching to ensure these help all children, including younger and those with possible speech delay, move on to the next stage in their learning. Therefore, not all children receive consistently good teaching or learning opportunities to help them make the best possible progress across the areas of learning. n Older children explore some interesting activities, such as using magnifiers to investigate various pumpkins. They describe the different patterns and textures,

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need to do better?

saying they are 'bumpy'. However, the activities and the environment, indoors and outdoors, are not well organised to encourage young children's engagement. For example, staff set up the water tray and playhouse outside with no additional resources to encourage children's interests or extend their

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need to do better?

31 October 2022 learning. n Parents report that they are happy with the care their children receive in the nursery. Parents can enter the nursery at drop off and collection, and this enables them to see the environment and talk with staff. Parents report that they do not always know what their children's next steps in learning are so that they can support these further at home. n Children have lots of opportunities to be outside in the fresh air. Older children climb and balance on equipment and play traditional games, such as hopscotch. Younger children run around and look in the mirror, and staff talk to them about what they see. However, there is little thought about what they want young children to learn during these outdoor play sessions. n Children's behaviour is good. Staff are positive role models and offer children regular praise and encouragement for their kindness, which boosts their self- esteem. Younger children are encouraged to be kind and to share and take

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need to do better?

turns. Older children play together cooperatively and show they are forming secure friendships. n Children develop an interest in books and request favourite stories for staff to read to them. Older children recall what they have learned as they talk about what happens in the book. Younger children enjoy joining in with singing. They shake the instruments and join in with the actions, lying down and then jumping up excitedly.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a sound knowledge of safeguarding and child protection policies. They know what to do if they are concerned about a child's welfare or the conduct of a colleague. Child protection and accident records are now clear and detailed, helping to promote children's well-being. Staff carry out risk assessments to identify and remove possible hazards. Outings have been assessed effectively and some areas deemed unsuitable for children to visit. Staff help children learn about their own safety, such as reminding them to sit when drinking and not to take toys on the slide. They supervise children well and maintain the required ratios and qualifications. Recruitment procedures are effective in helping ensure adults are suitable to work with children.

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Due date

31 October 2022 improve planning to ensure activities motivate children and are focused on their next steps in learning, particularly for the younger children and those who have gaps in their development 30/11/2022

p.3

Due date

monitor staff's teaching effectively and provide professional development opportunities that raise the quality of teaching and learning to a consistently good level across the nursery. 30/11/2022

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should:

n improve the organisation of activities and the environment to help all children become motivated to explore and learn, particularly for the younger and unsettled children n share information with parents about children's next steps in learning more effectively so they can support their children's development at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494618 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10257596 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 85 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Dean Close Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01291 628344 Date of previous inspection 18 August 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Dean Close Little Trees Day Nursery, Tutshill re-registered in 2015 under new ownership. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays. A team of 13 staff work with the children, including the manager. One staff member holds qualified teacher status and five staff hold an appropriate qualification at level 3. One member of staff holds a qualification at level 2 and six staff are unqualified. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Charlotte Jenkin Louise Phillips

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Inspection activities

n The inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The curriculum lead and one inspector carried out a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspectors during the inspection. n The inspectors spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n One inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views. n The area manager spoke to the inspectors about the leadership and management of the setting and provided some relevant documentation. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The area manager and the inspectors observed the younger children during an outdoor session and discussed the quality of teaching, the activities and

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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

31 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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