Unicorn Day Nursery

Inspection of Unicorn Day Nursery Shelsey Avenue, Oldbury B69 1BP

p.1

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 Inadequate

p.1

The provision requires improvement

The new manager has been proactive since very recently stepping into the post. The many improvements to practice mean that children's safety is now assured. However, the provider has not yet taken enough action to raise the quality of the provision to good.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Staff greet children as they arrive, and support them to settle quickly. They are warm and caring, and help children to feel happy and safe. However, the quality of staff teaching is variable. Some staff do not implement a curriculum that focuses on the specific learning needs of all children. This results in children not always being engaged in purposeful learning. For example, there are occasions when children flit from one thing to the next and staff do not consider how to tailor experiences to support their learning. That said, some staff working with older children are beginning to implement strategies to support children's listening, attention and language skills. Those working with babies and toddlers sing to them and narrate their play to support emerging language.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Children benefit from lots of opportunities to play outdoors. Staff provide some interactions to support their physical development. Younger children enjoy a parachute game and have opportunities to use a range of tools to build their small muscles. Older children enjoy mastering obstacle courses. They chat to their friends and staff as they hunt for bugs, and have fun as they run around together and push each other on bicycles. However, staff do not give children consistent messages about behaviour expectations, and this is somewhat confusing for them. This means children do not always listen to staff or understand what is being expected of them. Nevertheless, children generally behave well. Staff help them to manage conflict and to share and take turns. Children build lovely friendships and enjoy sharing experiences together.

p.2

need to do better?

n The new manager has made vast improvements in the short time she has been in post. She is implementing new ideas and has focused on staff well-being to help them to feel valued and to show that their contribution matters. She has ensured staff's safeguarding knowledge is up to date and has identified some training needs. This is going someway to improving practice. n The arrangements for supervision and induction are not yet embedded to raise the quality of the provision to a consistently good level. The manager has not received a full induction to help her to embed the curriculum. Some staff teaching is variable, and their interactions do not always support children to extend their learning. This results in children not engaging in purposeful learning.

p.2

need to do better?

24 October 2023 n Children benefit from a key person, who gets to know them well. Key persons support children's emotional well-being and build positive relationships with their parents. They complete observations and find out about children's interests. However, they do not always use information about children's development to plan specifically for what children need to learn next. At times, children are not challenged enough to help them make consistently good progress. n Some staff have completed training to assess and support children's communication and language. They have begun to implement small-group sessions to help children to catch up where gaps have been identified. Staff read to children and engage them in singing their favourite nursery rhymes. Some interactions support back-and-forth conversations to help children to become confident talkers. Older children enjoy talking about stories and eagerly draw

p.2

need to do better?

pictures to represent the characters and scenes from the book. n During group activities indoors, some staff begin with talking about the nursery rules. They use props and pictures to help children to learn about behaviour expectations. However, this is not consistent and the mixed messages that children receive are, at times, confusing for them. Children are told not to run around and bump into each other as they play outdoors. However, the reason for this is not explained and they are left to continue. This does not help children to learn about the effects that their behaviour can have on others. n Staff are sensitive to the needs of babies and young children. They provide reassurance to help them to take part in new experiences, such as sensory play. Staff sit with babies and children at sleep time to ensure safe sleep routines. n Children's independence is promoted well. They are encouraged to make choices

p.3

need to do better?

in their play and learning. Staff encourage older children to develop confidence with managing their self-care skills. Children learn to pour their own drinks and serve their meals. Staff help children to learn about healthy foods. n Staff share some information with parents about what their children like to do at nursery. They send interest sheets home to gain ideas of what children's interests and experiences are at home. However, staff do not always discuss with parents how they can fully support their children within all areas of their development at home. That said, parents speak positively about the experiences that their children receive at nursery.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Children's safety is assured because risk assessments are now effective. The environments are safe and secure, and hazards are identified and minimised to keep children safe. Staff supervise children well and ensure they are always within sight or hearing. Staff understand the signs of abuse, and know the procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child in their care or if an allegation is made against a member of staff. Processes have been improved to ensure all staff are suitably vetted and recruitment and suitability records are maintained.

p.3

Due date

improve the arrangements for supervision and induction, so that all staff, including the manager, are receiving effective coaching and support to continually raise the quality of learning and development experiences for all children 29/12/2023

p.4

Due date

help staff to provide a curriculum that is ambitious and well sequenced for all children, to focus on their next steps for learning, build on prior experiences and support them to make consistently good progress. 29/12/2023

p.4

should:

n enhance communication with parents to help and guide them to understand how to further support their child's development at home n provide consistent messages to children, so that they are fully aware of expectations and boundaries.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY386701 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 10298160 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 73 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Sandwell Supply Nursery Services Limited

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 0121 552 5242 Date of previous inspection 16 May 2023

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Unicorn Day Nursery registered in 2009 and is situated in Oldbury, West Midlands. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, 16 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, including one who holds a level 5 and one with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It operates a before- and after-school club during term time. Sessions are from 7.30am to 8.40am and 3.30pm to 6pm. A holiday club operates from 7.30am to 6pm during school holidays.

p.5

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 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 Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. 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 that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

24 October 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7