Maple Tree Nursery and Pre-school

Inspection of Maple Tree Nursery and Pre-school 279a West Bromwich Road, WALSALL WS5 4NW

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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

Children arrive at nursery calm, as staff welcome them warmly and by name. Children and staff form strong bonds. Staff are responsive to each child's individual needs. For example, staff are sensitive to the needs of babies and offer them physical and emotional comfort when they need it.

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The provision is good

Developing children's communication and language is a priority. Children learn and practise these skills through daily story times, singing nursery rhymes and through quality interactions with staff. For example, children join in with keywords and actions to familiar stories, and others retell story events using props in the sand.

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The provision is good

Children develop excellent social skills. They share real food as they pretend to make dinner in the role-play, home corner, and others hold hands as they explore the environment together. Children are happy as they play and learn with their friends. Children's behaviour is good. They are responsive to staff's regular reminders of behaviour expectations. For example, children walk when staff remind them to use their walking feet and smile when staff give them a sticker for good tidying up. Children are polite. They use good manners as they interact with staff at mealtimes, responding to questions using 'please' and 'thank you'.

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need to do better?

n Children have daily access to the outdoor area. This means that they have regular fresh air, physical exercise and opportunities to learn about nature. For example, children practise their balance and coordination skills on beams, as others splash in muddy puddles. However, staff do not always fully engage in children's play when outdoors. This limits the learning opportunities for children when outdoors. n Children have opportunities to experience early mathematics as they count plastic eggs and identify and order numerals. However, they do not explore these numbers in depth in order to develop a deeper understanding of number. n Staff observe and assess children's learning regularly. They have an accurate understanding of what children can do and what they need to learn next. Staff plan challenging activities that take into account the children's interests. This means that gaps in learning are quickly identified and addressed.

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need to do better?

n Staff work well with families and external agencies to identify children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities to ensure that they get the support they need. A sign language programme supports the development of essential communication skills, and a speech and language intervention targets children with delayed language. Staff support children to cope with transitions, process the day's activities and reduce sensory sensitivities, such as using pictures to organise the day and ear defenders to minimise noise.

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need to do better?

29 March 2023 n Children who speak English as an additional language are supported to communicate by staff who speak the same language. When a language is not spoken by staff, they learn keywords in the language to communicate with the child or translate information for parents. n Children's dietary requirements are catered for well. Individual placemats state cultural or medical requirements. Meals served are well balanced and nutritional. n Staff encourage children to become increasingly independent in managing their own care needs. For example, children hang their coat on their peg, find and put on their wellies and tidy away their own plates and cups after lunch. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents feel supported by the friendly and approachable staff who keep them well informed of their child's well-being and progress. Parents say that staff take into account the individual needs of the

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need to do better?

child. For example, parents say that their children make excellent progress with toilet training when the child is ready to do so. n Leaders and managers understand and support the children, families, and community they serve. For example, they have established links with food banks, donated to clothes banks and fundraised for local charities. n The manager has a good understanding of what quality teaching and learning looks like. Leaders monitor teaching and learning and identify areas for improvements. Leaders have highlighted mathematics as an area of development to ensure they offer quality learning and developmental experiences for children that continually improves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of the setting's safeguarding procedures and know the local referral procedures to follow if they have a concern. Staff are aware of the signs and symptoms of a child who may be at risk of abuse. The premises are secure so that children cannot leave unsupervised and unwanted visitors cannot enter. Staff identify and successfully minimise potential risks, indoors and outdoors. The provider has not recognised the need to provide Ofsted with all appropriate information. However, this has not impacted on the care and safety of children.

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should:

n provide more opportunities for children to experience early mathematics and develop a deeper understanding of number n support staff to use more positive interactions and engage in children's play when outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY466871 Local authority Walsall Inspection number 10263872 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 82 Number of children on roll 104 Name of registered person Maple Tree Nursery & PreSchool Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01922648447 Date of previous inspection 15 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Maple Tree Nursery and Pre-school registered in 2013. It operates from Walsall, West Midlands. The setting opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round, except Christmas and bank holidays. The setting employs 24 staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 5. The setting receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and spoke to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and learning and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector completed two joint observations with the manager of the nursery. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n A discussion was held with the manager, deputy manager and nominated individual where they discussed self-evaluation and their action plan for improvement. n The inspector spoke with staff, parents and children as part of the inspection.

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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

29 March 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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