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 Requires improvement

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The provision requires improvement

The support and quality of education children receive is not consistent across the nursery. There have been changes to the way staff plan for what children need to learn next. However, this is not implemented effectively as children join in with the different activities. At times, staff do not provide children with clear messages about what they need to do. Others have less interactions from staff. This does not encourage children's development and does not help them to make consistently good progress in their learning.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff greet children and families warmly on arrival. Children settle well and start to choose what to play with. Younger babies explore low-level climbing equipment. They work out how to climb into the different sections. Staff are on hand to help them when they cannot work out how to climb out. Older children have fun 'catching' different animals in a pretend pond. They use books with staff to look up different facts about the animals' life cycles.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are learning to do some things for themselves to help prepare them for moves to different rooms or on to school. Staff encourage babies to practise feeding themselves using spoons. Toddlers pour their own drinks at mealtimes. When going outdoors, staff encourage older children to try putting on coats and boots.

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need to do better?

n There have been several staff changes since the last inspection, including the manager. The new manager and the senior leadership team are supporting new staff and those studying for qualifications through induction and supervision processes. Staff are gaining confidence in their roles and comment that training on curriculum planning has helped them develop their knowledge. However, the new systems are still being embedded. Leaders and managers are not yet ensuring that the quality of teaching is consistently good for all children. n In pre-school, children join in several well-planned activities that encourage them to repeat and recall past learning. For example, they thoroughly enjoy talking with staff about the tadpoles they are caring for. They recall the different stages in the lifecycle of a frog and talk about how they have fed the tadpoles to help them grow. Other activities include them trying to guess the animal hidden

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need to do better?

in a box from sound and verbal description clues. They make links with letter sounds in their own names or other animal names and receive warm praise from staff when they guess correctly. n In other rooms, the quality of support for learning is variable. Outdoors, older babies and toddlers are keen to join in different activities. However, some children are reluctant to take turns on the swing. Others get upset when the

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need to do better?

27 April 2023 tools they are using in the tray filled with natural materials get dirty. As staff are needed to help children cope with their emotions and feelings, other children are left waiting for support. They lose interest in waiting for their turn on the swing or playing with the materials in the tray and wander off. n Most parents comment positively on the care and education their children receive. They say that they get frequent updates about what their children are doing through online reports or by talking with their child's key person. n Staff working with the younger children struggle to engage them in learning activities. They provide trays filled with shredded paper and cereal for children to explore using their senses. However, some children struggle to share, throw the materials about or get frustrated and need comforting. Other children then lose interest and move away from the activity.

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need to do better?

n Older children show care and kindness to others. As they create a cosy corner for story time, they check with friends if they would like to come and join them. They work collaboratively as they recreate the story of a wedding. Children share out the dressing up clothes and make pretend 'rings' from pipe cleaners. They readily help others to wind the pipe cleaner round their wrist or share the scissors to cut them to size.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure knowledge and understanding about how to act to safeguard children. They know and understand the potential signs that may mean a child is at risk of harm. The designated lead for safeguarding knows how to respond to concerns raised about a child's welfare. She follows the nursery and local safeguarding partnership protocols to refer concerns and seek advice to keep children safe. She understands the procedure if an allegation is made against a member of staff. The manager has good systems for recruitment in place and she checks staff's ongoing suitability regularly.

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Due date

ensure staff provide children with clear messages and support to help them understand what they need to do, including helping them to manage their feelings and develop good attitudes for learning 30/06/2023

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Due date

27 April 2023 ensure staff interactions with younger children motivate children in ways that encourage them to engage with activities and build on their skills and knowledge. 30/06/2023

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should:

n continue to improve the curriculum to make sure that it supports all children to make the best possible progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494618 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10287625 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 79 Name of registered person Dean Close Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01291 628344 Date of previous inspection 31 October 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 from 7.30am to 6pm , Monday to Friday, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays. There are 16 staff who work with the children. Of these, two hold qualified teacher status , one holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 5, five staff hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 3 and one member of staff holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 2. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 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 talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

27 April 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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