Zoe's Childcare Dallas Street

Inspection of Zoe's Childcare Dallas Street The Lodge, 4 Dallas Street, MANSFIELD, Nottinghamshire NG18 5TA

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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

When children arrive, they are greeted by staff who get down to their level, smile and say, 'Hello'. This helps children to settle and feel safe in the nursery. However, staff do not consider younger children's emotional well-being during-large group activities, which form part of the daily routine. Children observe staff who model using good manners. This helps to encourage children to be polite. When older children choose to copy staff to hold out their arms and stand on one leg, staff praise them for trying something new as they give them a high five. This helps to build children's confidence and self-esteem. However, not all staff are consistent in allowing children to make independent choices, particularly during snack time.

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The provision requires improvement

When staff play alongside children, they engage them in conversations and repeat the words they say. This helps children to hear the correct pronunciation of words. Staff use words and simple sign language as they talk to children, supporting their understanding and early speaking skills. However, the support staff provide to help children learn to listen and follow instructions is less effective. For example, during tidy-up time, some children continue to play instead of following instructions and helping the staff. Outdoors, older children are encouraged to develop their knowledge of people who help us. For example, through pretend play, staff show them the role of a shopkeeper and a customer. However, staff sometimes provide younger children with activities that are too challenging for them, resulting in them not being able to join in.

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need to do better?

n Staff generally support children to learn skills for the future. For example, staff provide children with tissues to wipe their noses and encourage them to dispose of them in the bin. However, the agreed strategies to enable children to make independent choices at snack time are not implemented consistently by staff. For example, staff do not always enable children to make choices about which food they would like to eat or encourage them to pour their own drinks. n Staff have rules and boundaries in place to promote positive behaviour. For instance, they remind younger children to use their 'kind hands' when they try to take toys from their peers. n The manager and staff use the curriculum to focus on supporting children's language skills. This also includes children who speak English as an additional language. However, there are times during the day when staff do not support children to listen and follow instructions. For example, when staff ask children to

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need to do better?

tidy away toys, some children tidy toys while others continue to play. n The manager and the staff offer children a healthy range of foods, contributing to a healthy lifestyle. Children are asked to take part in making parts of their lunch, such as making carrot cake. This helps them to learn how meals are

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need to do better?

3 July 2023 made. Parents say that they like the range of food their children are offered. Staff help children to learn how to clean their teeth to promote oral hygiene. n Children are keen to engage in the activities staff plan for them. However, some activities planned by staff do not enable younger children to build on what they already know and can do. One example of this is when staff offer children hard modelling material to play with to help develop the muscles in their hands. Older children can manipulate the material to make a ball. However, when staff ask younger children to 'squash' and 'squish' it, they cannot because it is too hard for their hands to model, as their muscles are not strong enough. n The manager and the staff support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities well. They work with parents and other professionals to put plans in place to support children's individual needs. Staff use picture cards to

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need to do better?

help children understand what is happening now and what will happen next. The manager uses additional funding to help close gaps in their development. This includes enhancing staffing to help support children's speaking skills. n During some daily routines, staff do not support younger children as effectively as older children. For example, when younger children are asked to join a large group to engage in physical activities, staff do not consider how to support younger children's emotional needs. The younger children stand in a small area in close proximity to older children who tower above them. This results in them being overwhelmed and upset.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager follows a robust recruitment procedure when employing new staff. She ensures they have the necessary checks in place to establish their suitability. This helps to ensure staff are suitable in their role. The manager and staff understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They know where to report concerns about children's safety. This includes if children are being exposed to radicalisation. There is a secure entrance to the nursery. Staff use safety gates to stop children from accessing certain areas unaccompanied. This helps to promote children's safety.

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should:

n support staff to carry out agreed strategies to provide children with independent choices about what they want to eat and drink at snack time n help staff to find ways of helping older children to listen and follow instructions when they are asked to tidy away toys n support staff to adapt some activities to more precisely meet the learning needs of the younger children

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should:

3 July 2023 n strengthen staff's abilities to meet younger children's emotional needs when they join large groups as part of the routine of the day.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY462408 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10289161 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 30 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Zoe's Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01623 656 280 Date of previous inspection 14 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Zoe's Childcare Dallas Street registered in 2013 and is situated in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, three at level 3 and the manager who holds level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 50 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 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 setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed how the manager implements the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke with the manager. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views on the nursery 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

3 July 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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