Ducklings Private Nursery

Inspection of Ducklings Private Nursery Moor Hall School, Rowallan Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B75 6RE

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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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

There are significant weaknesses in the safeguarding procedures at the nursery. Not all staff understand their responsibilities to keep children safe. Poor supervision means that children cannot always be seen or heard by staff. Leaders and managers have not considered the risks of leaving a door to the nursery unlocked when parents come into the school grounds at the end of the school day. This puts children at risk of harm.

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The provision is inadequate

The quality of education is poor. Recent changes in staffing mean that they do not know enough about children's interests and stages of development. As a result, staff do not provide children with an interesting and challenging curriculum. Children become bored, leave the activity, and wander around the room aimlessly. Children show challenging behaviours because staff do not motivate them to learn and stay engaged. Staff plan some adult-lead activities. For example, they carry out an activity making 'paper clay'. However, poor teaching does not ignite children's interests and they wander away from the activity soon after it has started. That said, children arrive happily and confidently separate from parents or carers. They make independent choices about what they would like to play with from the well- resourced environment.

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need to do better?

n The planning of the curriculum is weak. There is a significant lack of exciting and challenging experiences for children. Staff do not know what children need to learn next. They do not focus on the planned learning intentions of activities. Children do not stay engaged in their learning. As a result, the progress that children make in their learning and development is poor. n Strategies that staff use to manage children's behaviour do not help them to understand expectations. When children display unwanted behaviour, staff simply say 'no, no, no' without offering any explanation of why this behaviour is unacceptable. This results in children repeating and copying other children's poor behaviours. In addition to this, staff frequently use physical intervention when it is not necessary. For example, when children move away from group story and singing sessions, staff call them back and when they refuse to return

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need to do better?

staff pick them up and return them to the group. This means that children are not learning to follow simple rules and boundaries. n Although adult-to-child ratios are maintained, staff deployment is poor. Children are not supervised well enough. For example, staff allow children to repeatably go out of sight and hearing when they play in the larger school playground. This does not ensure their safety. n Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff are supported in their roles. Leaders do not provide sufficient support, supervision and mentoring to enable

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need to do better?

22 November 2023 staff to fulfil their responsibilities. This negatively impacts on the outcomes for children. n Parents comment positively about their children's experiences in the nursery. They say that their children enjoy attending and have made friends with other children. Parents express how well informed they are of what their children are taking part in during the day. n Staff promote children's physical skills well. Children enjoy spending time outside, where they can run around and join in with games, such as 'What's the Time Mr Wolf'. Staff hold children's hands as they negotiate the climbing area, where they learn to balance and climb. n Children are provided with healthy meals and snacks as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Children have opportunities to learn about the importance of keeping themselves healthy, such as learning the importance of washing their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

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need to do better?

n Staff are kind and greet children enthusiastically. Staff offer children cuddles and comfort when needed.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers do not ensure that children are safeguarded well enough. Staff are not deployed well enough to ensure that children are always within sight or hearing of staff. The premises are not secure enough to prevent unauthorised persons entering. New staff do not have an appropriate understanding of how to report any allegations made against other members of staff beyond senior leaders. This compromises the safety and well-being of children. That said, staff who have been working at the setting for longer have a better understanding of the safeguarding policies and procedures. Managers follow suitable recruitment procedures to ensure that staff are checked for their suitability to work with children.

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Due date

ensure that all staff understand the procedure to follow to report concerns to external agencies in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff 20/12/2023

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Due date

ensure that staff are deployed to supervise children effectively at all times 20/12/2023

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Due date

22 November 2023 ensure that unauthorised persons cannot enter the nursery premises 23/11/2023

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Due date

ensure that staff understand and follow appropriate procedures for managing children's behaviour 20/12/2023

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Due date

improve the planning of the curriculum to ensure that it meets the individual needs of the children and has a clear learning intention for what children need to learn next 20/01/2024

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Due date

implement effective support, supervision and mentoring procedures, so that all staff understand and are able to fulfil the requirements of their role. 20/01/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2643261 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10319941 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 36 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Ducklings Private Nursery LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 3080456 Date of previous inspection 6 December 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Ducklings Private Nursery registered in 2021 and is located in Sutton Coldfield. The nursery employs eight staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6, three are qualified at level 3, and one at level 2. The nursery is open Monday to Thursday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 7.30am to 3.45pm on Friday. Funded early education is provided 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager to understand how the setting operates and how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

22 November 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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