Sandhills Day Nursery, Alvechurch

Inspection of Sandhills Day Nursery, Alvechurch 49 Swan Street, Alvechurch, Birmingham, West Midlands B48 7RR

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children are happy at the setting. They enjoy sensory activities, such as sand and water play. For example, they smile and laugh as they fill and empty the different- sized containers. Children also enjoy getting creative as they make their own pictures, using a range of media. Leaders tailor settling-in sessions to meet the needs of each child. This helps children to build lasting bonds with their key person. Children actively seek out staff as needed. Staff show lots of care and attention to babies when they become upset. This works well and helps the babies to settle quickly. Although children generally behave well, they are not always supported by staff to learn what is expected of them.

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The provision is good

Children make good progress in their learning from their starting points. Children share that they like to use their imaginations as they play 'hairdressers'. Children enjoy physical exercise outdoors. They have fun making a range of different movements, such as climbing and running. Staff plan a range of activities for all children across the setting, covering all areas of learning. Most children show high levels of engagement as they play. Staff gather and share key information with other settings that children attend. This helps to ensure that children receive the consistency they require in their care and/or learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff comment positively about how leaders support their well-being. They share that leaders are on hand to help them when it is required. Leaders provide staff with lots of opportunities to attend training. However, they do not yet focus the use of supervisions and monitoring of staff practice to help raise the quality of teaching that children receive to the highest possible level. n The curriculum is ambitious. It covers all areas of learning and is sequenced to build on what children know and can do in stages. Staff know the children well. However, they do not fully utilise what they know about the children to help plan meaningful and stimulating activities for children to access. Consequently, there are occasions where children lose interest and start to become disengaged. n Staff read stories with lots of excitement. They ask the children questions about the story they are listening to. Children eagerly share their knowledge as they

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need to do better?

answer the questions. Children enjoy story time. Younger children make sounds as they look at the pictures in the story. Older children start to give meaning to the pictures and words in the story. n Staff complete regular observations and assessments on the children. Where staff identify significant concerns about a child's development, they actively speak to parents and make referrals to other professionals. Staff develop plans for these children. This helps to ensure that those children do not fall any further behind in their development.

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need to do better?

7 September 2023 n Parents comment extremely positively about the setting. They share that they can see the progress their child has made in their development. Parents also explain that their children enter the setting happily. Staff find out key information about the children before they start. This includes information such as their medical and dietary requirements. Staff also find out children's starting points from parents. They keep parents fully informed of their child's learning and ways they can support their child at home. n Staff remind children of the rules throughout the day. However, some staff lack the knowledge about how they can support children to regulate their own emotions. There are also occasions where some staff do not talk to children about how their behaviours affect others. This does not support all children to start to understand what is expected of them. n Staff use a range of activities to teach the children about themselves and others.

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need to do better?

Children enjoy looking in the mirror and talking about their features. Staff talk to children about what makes them unique. Children start to learn about their similarities and their differences. This helps to prepare children well for life in modern Britain. n Children have lots of opportunities to get physical in their play. Staff provide the children with a range of balanced and healthy meals. They are on hand to support children to keep themselves clean throughout the day, which teaches the children how they can live clean and healthy lifestyles.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The setting is safe and secure. It is clean throughout. Staff have good knowledge of a range of different types of abuse. They understand the action they should take to keep children safe from harm. Staff complete risk assessments to help identify hazards in the environment. They have sound knowledge of the action to take if a child suffers an injury at the setting. This includes informing parents of any accidents and/or incidents that occur. Staff deploy themselves well to ensure that children are supervised effectively as they eat and/or play. Sleeping children are frequently checked to ensure they are kept safe. Staff have sound knowledge of the setting's fire evacuation procedures. Recruitment procedures are implemented to check staff's suitability to work with children. Leaders have effective sickness policies in place, which helps to reduce the likelihood of infection.

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should:

n focus the use of supervisions and the monitoring of staff practice on raising the quality of teaching that children receive to the highest possible level n support children to regulate their own emotions and learn about what is

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should:

7 September 2023 expected of them n utilise what you know about the children, to help plan meaningful and stimulating activities that support the children to maintain high levels of engagement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY314384 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10309248 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 75 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person Sandhills Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 447 7219 Date of previous inspection 16 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Sandhills Day Nursery registered in 2005. It is situated in Alvechurch, Birmingham. The setting employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 hold a qualification at level 3. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The setting 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 setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the setting. n The deputy manager talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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.

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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

7 September 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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