Earlystarts Childcare

Inspection of Earlystarts Childcare Charlton House Independant School, 57 Midanbury Lane, Southampton SO18 4DJ

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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 benefit from the caring and calm atmosphere. Staff greet families in a friendly manner, taking time to listen and exchange relevant information. This helps children to feel safe and secure from the moment they enter the nursery. During play, children make use of the well-organised and good variety of resources. Children are exposed to fun activities and explore a wide range of vocabulary. They are learning to use a breadth of words to explain their play or thinking.

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The provision is good

Children are forging good relationships with each other; they behave well and follow clear boundaries. Staff have a strong focus on supporting children's social and emotional well-being. For example, children develop confidence during activities and discussions about their feelings linked to the story of the 'Colour Monster'. Staff give children gentle reminders of the rules and fully explain the impact of any unwanted actions. For example, when younger children are transferring sand to the water tray, staff explain not to throw the sand, as it might hurt their eyes or those of their friends. This helps to give children a secure understanding of how to behave and the reason why.

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The provision is good

All children relish the opportunities offered to explore the different textures of sand, water, gloop, and dough. They focus intently during the many opportunities they have for messy play. In addition, children benefit from additional activities, such as 'Diddy Dance', woodland walks or use of the on-site school hall and library. This helps to develop their physical and language skills.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have worked hard to ensure that improvements have been made to the nursery since the last inspection, particularly regarding the implementation of risk assessments. For instance, all areas are secure to prevent any unauthorised entry. This helps to keep children safe. n Leaders are passionate about making continual improvements and progress within the nursery. They accurately assess any weaknesses and swiftly put plans in place to make improvements. For example, they have plans to further improve children's curiosity and learning outside. The manager provides staff with ongoing supervisions, mentoring and coaching to help build on their current skills. Staff feel well supported and have regular discussions about their key children and their roles and responsibilities. n Leaders and staff have developed a clear curriculum intent, which is threaded throughout the rooms. Staff know all the children well and place great emphasis

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need to do better?

on getting to know their individual personalities. Staff use their observations, assessments and what they know about children's interests to organise the

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need to do better?

24 July 2023 resources and plan the activities. However, at times, staff in the toddler room do not organise the daily routine effectively to consistently meet the children's needs. As a result, when they are tired, children fall asleep on the laps of staff. n The nursery is fully inclusive and welcomes all children. Children who are learning to speak English as an additional language are supported well. However, staff do not fully consider all possible strategies to ensure that help is sought without delay when they have identified gaps in a child's learning or development, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to support children to achieve the best possible outcomes. n Staff support children to develop their communication from a young age. They repeat simple key words and encourage younger children to copy new animal sounds and noises. Staff help all children to develop a love of books. For

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need to do better?

example, staff have organised a lending library, where children can select books to take home and share with their families. Children enjoy listening to stories and join in with familiar songs and rhymes. This supports their early literacy and communication and language skills well. n Staff promote children's physical skills well. Babies have plenty of opportunities to practise their walking skills as they cruise around furniture, crawl through tunnels or negotiate steps. They enjoy building their gross motor skills as they climb on various soft-play shapes. Pre-school children and toddlers enjoy manipulating dough or making shapes in flour. They develop confidence in using various tools and equipment in their play, such as tweezers or shape cutters. This helps to develop the muscles in their hands needed to successfully hold and control a pencil. n Parents and carers are positive about the care, education and support that

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need to do better?

children receive from staff and leaders at the setting. Staff share information and photos with parents about what activities their children enjoy doing in the nursery. Parents say that communication is good, and this helps them to support children at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff ensure that the environment is safe for the children to play in. The manager and staff fully understand their role and responsibility to safeguard children. All staff, including the designated safeguarding leads, have completed relevant training. Leaders quiz staff and give them many opportunities to discuss a wide range of child protection issues. Staff receive regular updates to ensure that their knowledge remains current. Staff know the signs to look out for if they are concerned about a child's welfare. They demonstrate a secure understanding of how and when to record and who to report their concerns to if an allegation is made against a member of staff.

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should:

n review the daily lunchtime routine in the toddler room, ensuring that staff consistently meet the children's needs, particularly when children show signs of being tired n strengthen arrangements to identify and support children with particular needs, such as those who need additional support or those with SEND, in line with the SEND code of practice, to ensure that children achieve the best possible outcomes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2616705 Local authority Southampton Inspection number 10282167 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 110 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Hammond, Claire

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reference number

Telephone number 07500896063 Date of previous inspection 17 February 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Earlystarts Childcare registered in 2020. It operates from premises within Charlton House Independent School. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, for 51 weeks of the year, closing for a week at Christmas. The nursery receives funding to provide free early years education to children aged two, three and four. There are 18 staff employed to work with the children. Of these, seven staff hold a level 3 qualification, seven staff hold level 2 qualifications and one holds qualified teacher status.

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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 assessed how well leaders and staff understand and implement the setting's policies and how they support children's learning. n The inspector observed activities in the three main base rooms and garden. She talked to staff about the progress individual children are making and what they want the children to learn. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum is organised. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the manager. The inspector observed interactions between staff and the children and the impact these have on children's learning. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of paediatric

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Inspection activities

first-aid training. The inspector had a discussion with leaders about the evaluation of the setting and plans for improvement. n The inspector spoke to parents/carers and children 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

24 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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