Walmgate Day Nursery

Inspection of Walmgate Day Nursery Walmgate Day Nursery, 34 Walmgate, YORK YO1 9TJ

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is inadequate

Managers have not taken action to address some of the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. Staff, including those with leadership responsibilities, do not always follow procedures to deal with children's allergies or special dietary requirements. This compromises children's health and well-being. That being said, staff are caring and welcoming to children. They provide opportunities for outdoor play to help to develop children's physical skills.

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The provision is inadequate

Children are not well supported to develop their social skills. Staff do not consistently teach children what is expected of them. They do not support children to listen to them or to look after their toys. This means that staff spend a large majority of their time dealing with children's behaviour, rather than teaching them new skills and knowledge. This does not enable children to engage in purposeful play and learning to help them to make good progress.

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The provision is inadequate

Babies are well supported to develop their language and communication skills. Staff talk to them as they play. They comment on what children are doing and introduce new words. For example, staff say 'squeeze' and 'pour' as children play in the water with sponges and cups. However, as children move into older age groups, they are not sufficiently supported to develop their language and communication skills. While staff do recognise that many children need additional support to develop their vocabulary and communication skills, inconsistencies in the quality of education mean that children do not always receive the extra support they need.

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need to do better?

n The nursery manager has a good understanding of how young children learn. She is clear about the skills and knowledge that she wants children to have by the time they move on to the next stage of their learning. However, this is not well understood by staff. In particular, staff do not understand how to support children to regulate their behaviour. n Staff support children to develop their mathematical language. They teach them the names of shapes and colours. Staff repeat teaching, so that children remember what they have learned. For example, children name coloured shapes, pointing out 'circle' and 'square'. However, this teaching is not consistent across all areas of learning. n Staff provide some opportunities for children to develop their independence. Some children pour their own drinks and put on their own coats. However, staff are not consistent with their encouragement of children to be independent.

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need to do better?

Therefore, children become confused about what is expected of them and do not build their independence at a pace they are capable of. n Babies and the youngest children in the nursery receive very good care. Staff

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need to do better?

30 August 2023 are sensitive to their needs. They offer children choices even from a young age. Staff talk and sing to children during intimate care routines. They know when children are tired or just need reassurance. Babies develop positive relationships with the staff who care for them. n Parents say that they know what their children are learning at nursery. Some parents say that communication between the nursery and parents has improved since the last inspection. n Staff complete targeted plans of support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They consider what interventions will help children to make progress. Staff share these plans with parents. However, children with SEND do not make good progress as staff do not consistently put these plans into place. n Coaching and mentoring processes are not effective to support staff to develop their skills and knowledge. In particular, staff who are undertaking training or

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need to do better?

apprenticeships are not given the time and support they need to complete their training and development. Pressures on staffing mean that managers are not able to support staff to further develop their practice. The manager recognises the significant weaknesses across the nursery and is committed in her role. n The manager considers how funding which is received for individual children can be used to support their learning. For example, funding is used to provide training for staff to help them to understand how to better support children's communication and language development. n Managers do not ensure that safeguarding policies and procedures are followed. In particular, managers do not ensure that polices in relation to meeting children's dietary requirements are consistently followed. This compromises children's health and does not ensure that their needs are met. In addition, they do not have a good understanding of the procedures to be followed in the event

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need to do better?

of an allegation against a member of staff. This does not ensure that children are effectively safeguarded.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms that a child may be suffering from harm or abuse. They are clear about reporting procedures to ensure that any safeguarding concerns are recorded and reported accordingly. This makes sure that children receive the support they need when they need it. However, managers do not take sufficient action in the event of an allegation against a member of staff. Whistle-blowing procedures are followed by staff but are not robustly acted upon by those with legal responsibility for the nursery. This does not ensure the well-being of children. In addition, staff's poor knowledge of the procedures for dealing with children's dietary requirements further compromises children's well-being.

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Due date

support staff to understand how to manage children's behaviour in an appropriate way 29/09/2023

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Due date

ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to effectively teach children what is expected of them 29/09/2023

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Due date

improve the quality and consistency of education, so that staff are able to focus on teaching all children, including those children with SEND, the skills and knowledge they want them to learn 29/09/2023

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Due date

improve coaching and mentoring processes, including for apprentices, to ensure that they get the support they need to develop their skills 29/09/2023

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Due date

ensure that procedures to manage children's special dietary requirements are understood and implemented by all staff 29/09/2023

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Due date

improve understanding of local safeguarding partnership procedures in relation to reporting allegations against staff. 29/09/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2697150 Local authority York Inspection number 10307736 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 42 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Walmgate Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01904 733833 Date of previous inspection 31 May 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Walmgate Day Nursery re-registered in 2022 and is located in York. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The manager has a degree in Early Childhood Studies. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for a week at Christmas and bank holidays. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. 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 nursery. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents 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

30 August 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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