Kids Planet Waterfront

Inspection of The Learning Journey Day Nursery Waterfront Pedmore House, The Waterfront, Brierley Hill, West Midlands DY5 1XA

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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

The quality of experiences children receive while attending this nursery is variable. Staff do not always organise routines and activities well enough to ensure that children gain the most from them. The curriculum is planned to support every child's individual learning need and stage of development. However, this is not consistently implemented in practice by all staff. In addition, some hygiene practices do not fully support children's good health.

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The provision requires improvement

That said, children benefit from warm interactions with staff, who are kind and caring. They offer cuddles and support when children are upset or anxious. Children develop their communication. Staff read stories to them, and children are able to join in with familiar phrases. Pre-school children can retell their favourite stories and recall what happens next. Staff working with the younger children and babies sing familiar songs. They use animal props to encourage babies to name the animals and make the corresponding sound. However, there are also occasions when staff do not recognise that children are not interested in the story. They continue to read while children get up and wander around. In addition, the organisation of the rooms at story time sometimes means that the noise level is too high for children to hear what is being read. This impacts on their understanding and enjoyment of books.

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need to do better?

n The manager is experienced and knowledgeable. She reflects on the provision offered and has recently reorganised the layout of the nursery to try to better meet the needs of the children. She models good practice and offers advice to staff on how to manage activities. However, when the manager is not present or in rooms, the deputy managers do not consistently consolidate this good practice. They do not deploy staff appropriately or ensure that activities and routines are organised well enough. Consequently, at times, rooms are chaotic, with little for children to do. n There have been recent changes within the nursery due to a new company taking over. The nursery is in a stage of transition, and the new procedures and expectations for the curriculum are not yet embedded in practice. This impacts on the quality of experiences that children currently receive. That said, the manager is able to swiftly recognise the weaknesses in practice and understands

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need to do better?

what procedures need to be put in place to improve. n Recruitment and induction procedures are robust to ensure that all staff working with the children are deemed suitable to do so. The manager carries out supervision meetings and observations of staff to identify where areas for improvement are needed. Staff attend mandatory and specific training to further their professional development. Staff well-being is given high priority. Staff

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need to do better?

15 April 2024 benefit from 'well-being Wednesday' and staff appreciation week. n Hygiene practice throughout the nursery is not good enough. Staff fail to notice when children's noses need wiping. In addition, when they do wipe noses, they do not always dispose of tissues appropriately, and they put dirty tissues into their own pockets. Staff do not consistently wash their hands after wiping noses or wash resources when the mucus from children's noses has gone onto them. Furthermore, staff place clean washing, including the sheets for children's beds, onto the dirty floor before putting it away. This does not support children's good health. n The special educational needs coordinator is knowledgeable about her role. She works in partnership with other professionals and outside agencies to ensure that children receive additional support where needed. Funding is spent appropriately to provide children with special educational needs and/or

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need to do better?

disabilities (SEND) with additional resources, such as a sensory room. However, there are times throughout the day when children with SEND are not included in activities as much as they could be. n Children enjoy the time that they spend outdoors. They develop their physical skills as they balance, jump, ride bicycles and climb small ladders. They concentrate as they use sponges to wash the bicycles with soapy water. When staff introduce a familiar story, children excitedly join in as they pretend to walk through squishy grass and a river to hunt the bear. n Staff share information with parents to keep them informed of what their child is doing at nursery. They provide bags with books and activities for children to share with their families and extend their learning at home. Parents are happy with the care and learning that their children receive.

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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

embed the newly implemented changes to ensure all staff fully understand the expectations of the curriculum and provide a wide range of stimulating activities that fully support children's individual learning 31/05/2024

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Due date

15 April 2024 ensure that good hygiene practices are consistently followed by staff throughout the day 30/04/2024

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Due date

provide the deputies with support and training to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities, including recognising how to deploy staff appropriately and organise routines and activities throughout the day more effectively. 31/05/2024

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should:

n help staff to support children with SEND even more, so that they are included in activities to help them make the very best progress they are capable of.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2502587 Local authority Dudley Inspection number 10334161 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 85 Number of children on roll 118 Name of registered person The Learning Journey Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07872 835644 Date of previous inspection 6 December 2021

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Information about this early years setting

The Learning Journey Day Nursery Waterfront registered in 2018 and was acquired by Kids Planet in 2023. It is situated in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. The nursery is open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. There are 15 members of staff who work with the children, 12 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 5. The nursery receives funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

15 April 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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