Your Co-Op Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School, Stonehouse Farm

Inspection of Your Co-Op Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School, Stonehouse Farm Stonehouse Farm, Birmingham B32 3DX

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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

Inconsistencies in the quality of teaching, staff interactions, and deployment mean that not all children constantly receive high-quality learning experiences. In addition, some activities and daily routines are not always organised appropriately, and some hygiene procedures are not robust enough. That said, children are happy. They play and chatter to each other and give cuddles to staff and their friends. Children generally behave well. Staff encourage children to share and take turns and they are generally polite. Any instances of inappropriate behaviour are dealt with calmly and swiftly.

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The provision requires improvement

Children learn about the world around them. Older children are involved in an Eco committee for recycling. They act as monitors where they turn off water and lights and remind their friends to do the same.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff introduce activities to support children's physical development. Babies are encouraged to stand as they wash dolls. Older children make play dough using flour and water. They knead and roll the dough and cut it into different shapes. This helps to strengthen muscles in preparation for writing. Children enjoy the time they spend outside in the fresh air. They develop their imagination as they pretend to be pirates and catch sharks. They play team games, such as 'What's the time Mr Wolf?' and laugh as they chase each other.

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need to do better?

n Due to recent unforeseen circumstances, the nursery has experienced a major disruption to staffing levels. Although contingency plans have been put in place, these do not always work in practice. Some staff are not deployed well enough to ensure that they know the children they are caring for. In addition, staff do not always receive the support and training they need to enable them to carry out their roles and responsibilities, especially in the manager's absence. As a result, first thing in the morning as children and staff arrive, the nursery becomes chaotic, especially in the pre-school room. That said, as soon as the manager arrives and takes over, the change is instant, and children soon settle to their chosen task. n The manager is extremely experienced and dedicated to her role. She understands what children need to learn at each stage of their development to enable them to make progress. However, this is not currently fully implemented

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need to do better?

into practice. The quality of learning experiences varies across the nursery. During the morning, some activities do not provide children with a range of experiences to support their learning and maintain their interest. However, following support from senior managers the change is dramatic and children become focused and engaged.

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need to do better?

Farm 26 July 2023 n Children enjoy listening to stories and singing songs to promote their communication. They repeat words and name the animals they see, such as meerkat and giraffe. However, sometimes the way that activities are organised means that less confident children do not always have the opportunity to fully participate and join in. n There are stringent procedures in place to support children with dietary requirements and allergies and maintain their safety. Children have coloured photograph labels and corresponding coloured plates and bowls. This helps to ensure that all staff are aware of children's dietary needs. However, lunchtime in the pre-school room is not organised well enough. Staff do not ensure that there are enough plates and cutlery for all of the children. As a result, some children have finished eating before others have been served their food. In addition, staff in the baby room place the serving bowls on the floor and have to be told by the

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need to do better?

manager to put them onto a table. In other rooms, tables are not wiped between courses and children eat their pudding with food from their main course left on the table. This does not promote good hygiene practice. n Children enjoy making marks. Younger children chalk on a board and staff talk to them about the marks that they make. Older children use coloured dabbers to make patterns and they learn about shapes and colours. However, sometimes staff do not interact positively to fully extend all children's learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This does not help all children to make the very best progress they are capable of. n Staff share information with parents via an online app and through daily discussions. Parents are happy with the information they receive and with the service provided.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety is of paramount importance. The premises are safe and secure. All staff, including agency staff and those from other nurseries within the company, have a good knowledge of the signs that may indicate that a child is being abused. They know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child or a member of staff. Robust recruitment and induction procedures ensure that everyone working with the children is suitable to do so.

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Due date

deploy staff appropriately to ensure that children's needs are met at all times 11/08/2023

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Due date

Farm 26 July 2023 ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge they need to enable them to have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities 25/08/2023

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Due date

implement stringent hygiene practices, especially when serving food. 11/08/2023

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should:

n organise activities and daily routines appropriately to enable all children to fully participate and gain the most from experiences n support staff to fully understand how to interact positively with children and extend their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY539602 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10304095 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 60 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person The Midcounties Co-Operative Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 427 9056 Date of previous inspection 12 November 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Your Co-Op Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School, Stonehouse Farm is one of several settings owned by The Midcounties Co-Operative Limited. The nursery re- registered in 2016. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. 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 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The 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 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 carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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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

Farm 26 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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