Victoria House Neighbourhood Nursery

Inspection of Victoria House Neighbourhood Nursery Corbett Street, Smethwick, West Midlands B66 3PX

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children arrive at this welcoming nursery happy and keen to be with their friends. They develop confidence and learn to listen and follow instructions. Children are kind to each other. For example, a child asks, 'Can you help me?' and another child replies, 'I will be happy to.' Children learn to be independent. In the baby room, babies learn to recognise and select their own shoes. Two-year-old children learn to put on their coats, and older children start to manage their own personal care. All children are confident to lead their own play and learning.

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The provision is good

Children develop a love of books. They choose from a broad range of literature that they enjoy by themselves or with a chosen friend. Children listen to staff as they enthusiastically read stories to them. Children have plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors. They enjoy using climbing apparatus, riding on wheeled toys and kicking and rolling balls. Children benefit from a wide selection of activities and experiences that are provided by the dedicated staff, both indoors and outdoors. Children become engaged in their chosen activities for long periods of time, and they develop a positive attitude towards learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported to reach their full potential.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated manager and the enthusiastic staff team have made a significant improvement since the last inspection and have addressed the actions raised. For example, an effective key-person system is now in place to ensure that the care and learning needs of each individual child is met. There has been a strong focus on staff training and supervision. However, development opportunities for less-experienced staff to help enhance their interactions with children are not yet fully embedded. n The manager uses additional funding to meet children's learning needs. For instance, she identifies and purchases resources to meet the specific needs of the children for whom the funding is intended. n The manager monitors staff performance. She observes the quality of staff teaching and provides feedback where she identifies any areas for improvement. She puts any necessary training in place to support staff to help them to

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need to do better?

consistently provide high-quality teaching. n The manager monitors children's learning to help her identify any gaps in children's learning. Support for children with SEND is strong. The SEND coordinator works closely with staff and in collaboration with other professionals to ensure that the right support is in place to help these children make the progress they are capable of. n Staff know the children well. They make regular observations and assessments of children as they play. They use this information to plan challenging and

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need to do better?

19 June 2023 enjoyable activities that are based on children's individual learning needs and interests. Consequently, children make good progress. n Children in the baby room use their imagination well as they join in role play. They re-enact experiences familiar to them, such as pretending to make tea and cakes. Staff extend children's play as they introduce new vocabulary such as 'mix' and 'stir'. Throughout the nursery, children enjoy singing songs and joining in action songs. Staff ask children probing questions to encourage them to think and use their developing language to reply. However, staff do not always make the most of opportunities to strengthen the speaking, listening and understanding skills of children who speak English as an additional language. n Throughout the nursery, children learn to count and recognise numbers and shapes. Staff provide children with opportunities to develop their small-muscle

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need to do better?

skills, in readiness for early writing. Throughout the nursery, children use a variety of media to make marks. Children learn to recognise and write letters of their names. n Staff manage children's behaviour well. They are good role models who support children to use good manners, share and take turns. n Parents are highly complimentary about the nursery, saying their children look forward to attending. Parents talk about the progress their children have made since starting at the nursery, particularly with their speech and social skills. They say the staff share a lot of information about their children's progress with them. Staff give parents ideas of activities they can do with their children at home to further support their ongoing learning. Parents say the staff are kind, caring and friendly.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities to protect children from harm. Staff receive regular training to keep their knowledge up to date. They are aware of the possible signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They know where to refer any concerns they may have about a child's welfare or the conduct of a member of staff. Staff supervise children at all times. The manager has robust procedures in place to help deem staff suitable to work with children. The premises are safe and secure.

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should:

n build on the support and guidance provided to less-experienced staff and help them to raise their quality of interactions with children during their play n support staff to enhance the speaking, listening and understanding skills of children who speak English as an additional language further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY276595 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 10252449 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 73 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Rare Wood Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 555 6361 Date of previous inspection 8 August 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Victoria House Neighbourhood Nursery registered in 2004. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold relevant childcare qualifications. One holds a qualification at level 6, and 12 hold qualifications at level 2 to level 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.15pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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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 her about their curriculum and what she wants the children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. She spoke to children to find out about their time at the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of 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

19 June 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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