The Willows Day Nursery

Inspection of The Willows Day Nursery The Willows Day Nursery, 380 Redditch Road, Kings Norton, BIRMINGHAM B38 8PS

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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 happily enter this inviting nursery and quickly settle into the routines of the day. They enjoy daily access to the large garden. Children climb on board the pirate ship and giggle with friends as they pretend to set sail. Children patiently wait their turn to use the slide. They balance on logs and delight in taking risks as they jump off. This helps to build children's confidence, strengthen their large muscles and get their heart rates up.

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The provision is good

There are exciting opportunities for mark making. Children squeeze water-spray bottles and watch intently as they make marks of the fence. They use large chalks on the floor to practise writing the letters in their name. This helps children to build the small hand muscles needed for their future writing.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for all children. Staff skilfully manage challenging behaviour and are calm and kind in their demeanour. They fully explain to children the impact their behaviour has on others. This gives children a good understanding of how to behave, show respect and follow rules. This prepares them well for their next stage in learning, including the move on to school.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have made significant improvements to the nursery since their last inspection. Areas are clean, hygienic and free from hazards. Staff regularly assess the risks of the learning environment and swiftly clean up any water spillages. Staff effectively deploy themselves to meet the needs of the children. This helps to keep children safe and reduce the risk of accidents. n Leaders have designed a new, ambitious curriculum that builds on what children know and can do. They make good use of popular stories to ignite children's interests in learning. Children make good progress in their development from their starting points. Staff understand what they want children to learn. However, sometimes, the quality of teaching does not extend children's learning to the highest level. For example, staff repeat questions too quickly, or ask simple closed questions. This means that children do not always have the time

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need to do better?

to think deeply or use their own ideas to respond. n Children are learning important life skills, like sharing and taking turns. They sit nicely at the play dough table and discuss their creations with each other. They share the cutting tools and take turns to talk. Children behave well and show respect towards their friends and adults. Staff are good role models and regularly promote manners. This gives children a good example to follow. n Staff are attentive to children's individual learning needs. For example, young babies show an interest in pushing furniture to practise walking. Staff respond quickly, finding resources to support children's physical development. This sharp

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need to do better?

26 May 2023 attention to children's needs means gaps in their learning are closed swiftly. n Parents speak highly of the nursery. They comment there have been noticeable improvements in the reporting of accidents, particularly head injuries, since the last inspection. This helps parents to feel reassured. They also say that leaders respond quickly to feedback and are open to making changes. This strengthens the relationship between home and nursery. n Children show a love of books. Even the youngest children independently reach for books and carefully turn the pages. Staff use the story of the week to build activity ideas that interest children. This helps to deepen children's understanding of the story, learn new words and recall the plot. n Staff regularly share progress information with parents through parents' evenings and an online app. They hold workshops for parents to attend within the nursery. Parents recently joined children and staff for a planting activity in

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need to do better?

the garden. This helps to give parents ideas to continue learning at home. It also gives parents an opportunity to get to know staff and build relationships. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is good. The experienced special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works closely with other professionals. This means children with SEND get the early and ongoing support they might need. The SENCo supports staff to formulate specific SEND targets and regularly assesses the children's progress. This helps children to make good progress in their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff fully understand their role and responsibility to safeguard children. Staff know the signs to look for if they are concerned about a child's welfare. Leaders and staff know the procedure to follow if they are worried about a child. They know who to contact if an allegation is made against a member of staff. Staff complete regular risk assessments of the learning environment. They count children in and out of rooms and effectively deploy themselves to keep children safe.

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should:

n build on the already good teaching practice, and support staff to fully challenge children to the highest level to help them make the very best progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY270031 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10278334 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 88 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Virdee Daycare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 458 2828 Date of previous inspection 19 January 2023

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Information about this early years setting

The Willows Day Nursery registered in 2001 and is located in Kings Norton, Birmingham. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am to 6pm. The nursery receives funding to provide early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 6, seven hold a qualification at level 3, three hold a qualification at level 2 and one is unqualified.

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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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and area 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 The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

26 May 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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