Apple Tree Day Nursery & Kidz Club

Inspection of Apple Tree Day Nursery & Kidz Club 27 Church Drive, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9UH

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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The provision is inadequate

Leaders do not ensure that there is an appropriate curriculum, and this means that staff do not know what children should be learning. Staff do not provide appropriate support to help children to make progress in their learning. Staff's interaction with children is, at times, supervisory. They do not usually model language or extend children's learning by sharing new information. Furthermore, they do not consider what resources children might need for activities. As a result, activities are disrupted as staff bring out resources one by one for individual children. This has a significant impact on children's engagement levels in activities.

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The provision is inadequate

Due to recent changes in the key-person system, staff do not always know the children that they are working with well enough. They do not know children's stage of development and what they are learning next. Staff are not always supportive of children's emotional needs. They do not consistently reassure and comfort children who are upset. Although staff recognise that some children struggle with the transition between activities and mealtimes, they do not organise this effectively to minimise frustrations. However, staff are sensitive when managing nappy change times, and they explain what is happening and wait until children are ready to leave what they are doing.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff do not always follow procedures to ensure that risks and hazards are minimised, that children follow good hygiene practices or that children's privacy is assured when they go to the toilet.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are failing to evaluate practice and ensure they are meeting the requirements of the 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage'. Supervision arrangements are in place for staff, but are not effective. Targets do not help staff to improve their teaching practice or ensure that they are implementing the nursery's policies and procedures. No progress has been made since the last inspection to meet the four actions set. Furthermore, this is the fourth occasion in the last six weeks where Ofsted has identified that staff are failing to follow procedures for risk assessment and hygiene. n Leaders have a weak knowledge and understanding of developing a suitable curriculum. They are overly focused on activities, resources and routines rather than identifying the knowledge, skills and understanding they want children to gain. They do not consider how they will sequence learning to ensure that

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need to do better?

children acquire basic skills before moving on to more complex goals. As a result, staff are unclear on what children should be learning. n Staff regularly assess children's level of development. However, they do not always recognise when children are not making expected progress. This means

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need to do better?

23 June 2023 they are not taking appropriate action to ensure that children receive the support they need. n The quality of staff interactions with children is poor. Staff do not demonstrate they have the necessary knowledge and understanding to support children's learning. For example, when children play outside, they are often engaged in solitary play, occupying themselves with the toys. Nevertheless, children behave well and staff do support them to manage minor disagreements, such as whose turn it is with popular toys. Staff also praise children, for example if they offer a toy to another child without prompting. n The key-person system is not effective. Although leaders were aware of a planned absence of a staff member, they have failed to ensure that each child has a consistent member of staff that knows them and can support their needs, learning and development. n The premises are not organised well enough to meet children's needs.

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need to do better?

Insufficient consideration has been given to children's privacy and dignity when they are using the toilet and the impact this could have on children's well-being and their understanding of how to keep themselves safe. n Parents and carers are positive about the care provided. However, staff do not ensure that parents and carers receive information about their children's learning and development so that they can support learning at home. n Children enjoy the healthy home-cooked food. Staff ensure that children have sufficient food to eat, offering them more of their favourite elements of the meal. Children are encouraged to be physically active in the outdoor area. They ride around on scooters, navigating obstacles in their path. n Leaders ensure that additional funding is used to support the development of the individual child it is intended for.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders do not ensure that staff are following policies and procedures to minimise risks to children resulting from hazards in the environment. For example, staff are not vigilant in supervising children on the large play equipment. Staff have a suitable knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. The designated safeguarding lead maintains contact with other professionals to ensure that children are safeguarded. Staff record appropriate information in the event of an accident. Appropriate checks are carried out to determine the suitability of adults working in the nursery. Staff maintain a record of children's hours of attendance.

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Due date

ensure that staff understand and are implementing the nursery risk assessments to assure children's health and safety 26/06/2023

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Due date

ensure that the premises are organised to meet children's needs, with particular reference to children's privacy and dignity when they use the toilet 26/06/2023

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Due date

ensure that there is an effective key- person system to offer a settled relationship for children and meet their individual needs 30/06/2023

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Due date

ensure that staff share information with parents and carers about their children's learning and development 21/07/2023

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Due date

ensure that supervision identifies weaknesses in practice and provide appropriate support, coaching and training to help staff to implement the nursery policies and procedures and improve their teaching. 04/08/2023

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Due date

ensure that assessment is used to identify concerns about children's development and that appropriate action is taken 21/07/2023

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Due date

identify clear curriculum goals that you want children to achieve and ensure that staff understand and can implement these 08/09/2023

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Due date

ensure that staff provide appropriate support to help children to make good progress in their learning and development. 08/09/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 223186 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10296058 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 45 Number of children on roll 43

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Name of registered person

Steven Chadwick and Yazmin Chadwick Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01530249872 Date of previous inspection 17 November 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Apple Tree Day Nursery & Kidz Club registered in 1998 and is located in Markfield, Leicestershire. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff, seven of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspectors completed a learning walk. They observed the quality of teaching during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspectors spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspectors completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspectors held a meeting with the manager of the nursery and another member of the management team. n The inspectors looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspectors discussed the procedures for evaluation and the priorities for improvement. n The inspectors spoke to parents and carers 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

23 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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