St Stephen's Pre-School And Day Nursery

Inspection of St Stephen's Pre-School And Day Nursery 427 Brays Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B26 2RR

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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

Overall, children play contentedly and enjoy their time at nursery. Staff gather information from parents before children join about children's likes, dislikes and needs. Children benefit from gradual settling-in sessions to help them to adjust to the new environment. This helps to support children during the time of transition. As a result, new children settle well. Staff are kind and responsive to children. They join children as they play and encourage them to access activities around the room. Staff support children to take turns. For example, during outdoor play, children line up to climb the steps to the slide.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff use some suitable teaching strategies to promote children's language and communication skills. They encourage children to join in with singing and moving their bodies to action songs and rhymes. Staff ask children questions and engage them in conversation. However, the overall quality of teaching is too variable. At times, prolonged group activities mean that children lose focus and wander around the room. Staff do not always provide sufficiently planned activities to fully engage children or consistently motivate them to play and learn.

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need to do better?

n The nursery is going through a period of a change in management. This has led to the temporary manager not holding the required qualifications or experience to undertake the role effectively. Nevertheless, a qualified deputy manager ensures that this does not have a significant impact on the overall running of the provision. n Leaders do not have sufficient oversight of the provision to identify when weaknesses in teaching emerge. Staff get to know children well. They understand what they like and base some activities on children's interests. Staff benefit from some mandatory training, such as safeguarding courses. However, leaders do not ensure that staff receive sufficient support and training to undertake their roles effectively. As a result, teaching and planning are not focused enough on what children need to learn next. n Staff provide some activities for children to help them to gain the basic skills

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need to do better?

they need. However, staff do not implement an ambitious enough curriculum. They do not offer a sufficient range of activities to excite and motivate children to play and learn. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, do not make the progress of which they are capable. n Children take part in activities to enhance their small-muscle skills. They join staff to fix train tracks together and build towers with blocks. Children make marks with crayons and pens. They proudly show off the picture they have drawn of 'Mummy'. This helps to develop the skills they need for writing when they go to school.

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need to do better?

22 January 2024 n Overall, children behave well and are aware of the simple rules of the setting. However, staff are not always consistent in their approach to managing behaviour. Sometimes, staff say 'no thank you' without explaining why some behaviour is not acceptable. Children do not always understand what is expected of them. n Staff are aware of the importance of promoting children's health. For example, they provide children with healthy snacks. Staff encourage children to play with toy teeth and toothbrushes. They talk to them about the importance of brushing teeth. Children benefit from regular outdoor play for fresh air and exercise. n Staff support children to develop independence. Children help to tidy away toys and resources at the end of the session. They go to the toilet, wash their hands and get their own coats and hats on independently. n Parent partnerships are sound. Staff share regular information about children's

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need to do better?

achievements through daily conversations and electronic applications. This helps to establish some continuity of care for children. Parents speak positively about the care their children receive. They comment on how quickly their children adapt to their first nursery experience.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

increase leadership oversight to ensure that the manager has the appropriate experience and qualifications and that all staff benefit from effective support and supervision to fulfil their roles and responsibilities 29/02/2024

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Due date

devise and implement a sequenced and exciting curriculum to engage and motivate children to play and learn 29/02/2024

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Due date

raise the overall quality of teaching to a consistently good level. 29/02/2024

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should:

n provide consistent behavioural support for children to help them to understand what is expected of them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2577302 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10327352 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 83 Number of children on roll 83

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Name of registered person

St. Stephen's Pre-School And Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 7421788 Date of previous inspection 11 November 2021

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Information about this early years setting

St Stephen's Pre-School and Day Nursery registered in 2020. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm, during school term time only. There are eight members of childcare staff employed. Of these, five hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 or above. 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 inspector conducted a leadership and management meeting with two of the nursery owners, one of whom is the nursery manager and the deputy manager. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the deputy manager, where they discussed the quality of teaching and practice. n The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children throughout 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

22 January 2024 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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