Smart Kids Nursery

Inspection of Smart Kids Nursery 2 Tower Road, Aston, Birmingham, West Midlands B6 5BN

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children settle quickly and are happy to come to nursery. Staff are caring towards children and greet them with a warm welcome; this supports children to feel secure. Staff provide children with a variety of activities and resources to support their development and learning.

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The provision requires improvement

Children behave well and show care and concern for each other. They acknowledge when their peers leave nursery, waving goodbye to them at home time. Children take turns as part of group-time activities. For example, pre-school children talk to staff during group time, where they recall the activities accessed during the day. Staff encourage children to take turns and listen to what each other has to say. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) enjoy their time at nursery. Younger children enjoy exploring sensory and messy-play experiences, as they touch, taste, and print coloured yoghurt on paper.

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The provision requires improvement

The manager has high expectations to support and close any gaps in children's learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders and staff are working hard to develop children's social skills and increase their communication and language development.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management have expectations of the nursery. Supervisions are carried out regularly, to allow staff to discuss any issues. Staff well-being is supported, and staff feel valued. Leaders provide staff with regular training and targets to improve practice. Systems are in place to ensure that key children are observed and monitored. n The quality of teaching is not consistently at a good level. Although, the manager has clear expectations of the nursery curriculum. Staff do not implement this effectively during their interactions with children. As a result, the intentions for activities are not always implemented to support what children already know and need to learn next. n Children develop positive relationships with their key person. Staff ensure that children's first languages are fully supported and use their skills to speak in languages familiar to them. Staff support children with SEND very well. The

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need to do better?

manager ensures that families are supported in this journey and signpost them onto external professionals for guidance and support. Consequently, children with SEND make good progress. n Staff provide children with healthy meals and snacks and ensure that healthy lifestyles are promoted. Fresh fruit and vegetables are provided each day for children. However, some inconsistencies prevent children from making choices. For example, some staff do not encourage children to choose their own snacks

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need to do better?

10 February 2023 or drinks during mealtimes. In addition, appropriate cutlery is not provided and does not meet the needs of all children. n Children benefit from learning about the wider community. Staff teach children about people and communities and take children on local visits and trips further afield. For example, staff use funding to help plan larger outings to the seaside. As a result, this helps build children's understanding of the wider world. n Children have plenty of opportunities for fresh air and exercise to extend their physical development. Staff provide children with a wide variety of resources to enhance their physical skills, such as climbing, balancing, running and riding on bikes and trikes. However, staff do not always identify and take action to minimise potential risks when young children join older children outside. n Relationships with parents are positive. Parents comment on how happy their

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need to do better?

children are in nursery and the care and attention children receive. They report that they are provided with regular feedback about their child's day in person or online. Parents comment on the progress children make with their communication and social skills and are fully informed about their child's development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their responsibilities to safeguarding. They ensure that staff keep their knowledge current with regular safeguarding discussions and training. Staff understand the indicators of abuse and have an awareness of extremism, radicalisation, and female genital mutilation. Staff have knowledge of the setting's procedures to follow in the event of a concern, or where an allegation is made against adults working with children. Leaders ensure that recruitment procedures are followed, along with checks that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff are deployed well, indoors and outside.

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Due date

ensure that risk assessments are robust and hazards to children's safety are identified, particularly in relation to the outdoor space when young and older children use the space together. 24/03/2023

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should:

10 February 2023 n review the organisation of mealtime routines to ensure that they are consistent for all children throughout the nursery n develop the curriculum to ensure it is clear and that learning intentions are understood by all staff, to ensure children make the best possible progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY475133 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10264148 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 65 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person ASKN Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01214394980 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Smart Kids Nursery registered in 2014 and is based in the Aston area of Birmingham. The nursery operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. Of these, one holds relevant qualifications at level 6; 11 staff hold level 3 and eight staff at level 2. 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 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 provider. n The inspector had a tour of the nursery premises. The manager discussed the organisation of the nursery and curriculum provided. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching throughout the inspection. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents at appropriate times and took account of their views of the nursery. n The inspector held a meeting with leaders to discuss leadership and management arrangements. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and checked the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

10 February 2023 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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