Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club

Inspection of Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club Middle Farm Barn, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, DORCHESTER, Dorset DT1 3WA

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision requires improvement

Children separate well from their parents and carers. They settle into their rooms, where staff warmly welcome them. Staff plan a varied curriculum across the nursery which takes account of the different ages and stages of children's development. For example, pre-school-age children enjoying making fruit kebabs, and staff encourage their mathematical skills through counting the fruit as they put them on the stick. They encourage children to solve problems and work out how many they have if they add or take one of the pieces of fruit away. However, leaders do not monitor staff practices as well as they could so that all children receive good-quality interactions and challenge across the nursery. Although staff know that they want younger children to develop their communication and language, they do not sufficiently engage all the babies to help them develop these skills.

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The provision requires improvement

Children behave well, particularly the younger ones. When older children sometimes forget the simple rules like 'sharing with our friends' and 'kind hands and kind words', staff deal with these occasions well and remind children of why they have these rules. Staff teach children about healthy lifestyles. For instance, they talk about foods that are good for you, such as fruit and vegetables, and those that are not so good, such as sweets and chocolate. Children benefit from being able to exercise in the fresh air and there are resources to promote older children learning to balance, climb and scoot.

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need to do better?

n There is a new management structure, with two managers who complement each other well. They have identified areas that they want to improve and have developed various tools to support them in addressing staff practice and to make sure that there is consistency across all areas of the nursery. For example, they will use new detailed observations during supervision sessions with staff to give them time to talk about what they do well and what they need to improve. However, these are recently introduced and managers have not had sufficient time to embed them and make sure the desired outcomes are achieved. This means that staff are not consistent in their approach to supporting children's learning. n Following the last inspection, managers have devised new induction procedures where there are clear expectations of what they want new staff to achieve in their probation period. New staff know and understand their roles and

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need to do better?

responsibilities. All staff report that they feel valued and respected and feel there is great teamwork across the nursery. Staff benefit from good training opportunities and implement what they learn to support their work in the nursery. For example, staff in the pre-school room attended a training course

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need to do better?

8 April 2024 and learned how boys' bones develop differently, particularly in their hands, and they need to think about this when promoting early literacy skills through mark making and children learning how to hold a pencil. n Staff build positive relationships with parents and carers. They use a variety of methods to update parents on their children's progress, such as daily discussions at handover and collection. Staff and parents use an online app to share information about how their children are progressing and activities that parents have done with the children at home. Parents report that any worries they may have had are successfully addressed in a timely manner. n Staff working with the younger children follow their home routines, particularly with regard to feeding, nappy changing and sleeps. They work closely with parents to help children progress to their next stage of learning, such as weaning and potty training, to make sure that children are comfortable and

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need to do better?

parents' wishes are respected. n There is a large outdoor area which children use throughout the day. However, staff do not always think about the curriculum and how they can support children's learning when outside. For example, babies play in their designated area but have limited resources and staff are slow to respond in providing additional learning opportunities to support children's development. Some babies become bored and unsettled. n Following a recent incident where a child was unsupervised for a short time, management has implemented stringent safety methods to ensure that children are safe and secure in the setting.

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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

ensure that staff are clear on how to implement the intentions for children's learning so they challenge children and help them to engage in active learning and achieve their key next steps 04/06/2024

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Due date

8 April 2024 monitor staff practice more closely, particularly their interactions with children, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities in the baby room and pre-school rooms, so that children benefit from consistently good-quality learning. 04/06/2024

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should:

n improve the curriculum in the outdoor areas, particularly for babies.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY216520 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10339740 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 170 Number of children on roll 165 Name of registered person Sunny Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0345 88 88 123 (Option 3) Date of previous inspection 5 July 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club registered in 2002. It operates from the village of Poundbury, in Dorset. Opening times are Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery is in receipt of funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 21 members of staff who work with the children. Of these, 12 hold a relevant qualification at level 2 or 3. In addition, there are four support staff and a volunteer.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Lorraine Sparey Jonathan Payne

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Inspection activities

n The inspectors discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and have 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 Two inspectors completed this inspection. They both completed a learning walk with one of the managers and discussed the curriculum across all areas of the nursery. n Both inspectors spoke to parents and read written information provided for the inspection to take account of their views. n The inspectors spoke to staff and children at different times throughout the day. n The inspectors held a leadership and management meeting with both managers and discussed monitoring and evaluating and viewed staff records and monitoring tools. n The lead inspector completed a joint observation with one of the managers and the other inspector completed a joint observation with the other manager and

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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

8 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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